About 80 per cent of Scotland’s red meat exports are destined for the European Union. Figures from the industry show that the value of beef and lamb exports from Scotland to the EU in 2015 was about £73 million. However, if Scotland were subject to the tariffs that are applied to countries outwith the EU, it would cost importers about 50 per cent more to buy the same volume of our beef and lamb. In a highly competitive market, the consequences could be profound, with potentially much reduced sales or lower prices paid to our primary producers through the supply chain, neither of which is desirable. That illustrates the importance of maintaining access to our largest export market.

As the Minister is aware, the south of Scotland produces a significant amount of Scottish beef and lamb for United Kingdom and EU markets, so the potential impact on livelihoods is very worrying. Will he advise how many free trade agreements with countries outwith the EU include provision for beef and lamb exports? What might happen if Scotland was forced out of the EU against our will?

To answer the member’s question directly, we have free trade agreements on red meat exports with five markets outside the EU: Switzerland, Norway, Monaco, Hong Kong and Canada. Those markets equate to a total volume of beef sales of 4.8 per cent and of lamb sales of 2.5 per cent, whereas our sales to the EU, as I have said, equate to 80 per cent of exports.

For some countries outwith the EU, the tariffs on red meat exports can be up to 30 per cent, so there would be profound consequences.

We have learned two things from this week’s Tory party conference. The first is the Tories perceived dislike of foreigners. The second is that they are pushing for a hard, hard Brexit. It would be extremely detrimental to those in the south of Scotland and in other regions across Scotland who are looking to export their red meat to the European continent if we were not members of or did not have access to the single market.

I have no doubt that there may be uncertain times ahead following Brexit, but does the Minister agree that Joan McAlpine’s daily apocalyptic predictions on any issue—[

Interruption

.]—some with the most tenuous links to the EU, are in danger of turning a very serious matter into what some might call project fear on steroids?

To be accused of making apocalyptic, hyperbolic assertions by Neil Findlay—the man who scares on every issue under the sun, from health and St John’s hospital to transport—is, to be frank, like being accused by Donald Trump of being anti-Muslim.

7. To ask the Scottish Government what impact leaving the European Union and the single market could have on Scotland’s red meat exports. (S5O-00237)