3. To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help ensure that quality Scotch beef is available in supermarkets in Scotland. (S6O-02198)

Scotch beef is an iconic product, and I am pleased to say that it is available in each of the main grocery retailers in Scotland as well as in the vast majority of our independent high street butchers. Whenever I meet retailers, the sourcing of Scottish produce, including Scotch beef, is always part of the agenda. In addition, Quality Meat Scotland regularly meets retailers and their Scotch beef suppliers to promote and align marketing campaigns on Scotch beef. It is, of course, important to our agriculture sector that our supermarkets stock not just Scotch beef but Scotch lamb and specially selected pork.

It was recently reported that Scotbeef had lost the contract to supply Aldi with beef. Scotch beef is a product of unparalleled quality that everyone should be able to enjoy if they wish, so does the cabinet secretary agree that, although Aldi stocks other Scotch beef products, it is vital that, during the on-going cost of living crisis, discount retailers continue to provide as wide a range of products as possible and give people affordable access to the best of Scotland’s larder?

I absolutely agree that Scotch beef should be available to everyone from all walks of life. I know that, over the years, Aldi has strongly supported Scottish produce and its supply across Scotland, including by offering Scotch beef to its customers.

My understanding of the situation is that a change in suppliers has resulted in a temporary reduction in the availability of Scotch beef in Aldi. However, Aldi remains committed to sourcing Scotch beef. It is in the process of acquiring a new contract, and it will have Scotch beef back on its shelves as soon as possible.

With support from QMS, the Scottish beef industry delivers the highest standards of production and of animal welfare and wellbeing. That results in the production of the highest quality of beef, with a carbon footprint that is significantly below the global average.

Last month, the Climate Change Committee spelled out its belief that Scotland will need to slash dairy and beef numbers by 29 per cent and 26 per cent respectively to meet the net zero targets. Will the cabinet secretary rule out any cut to red meat production and assure me and the farming industry that she has a practical and achievable plan to meet the legal climate change targets and protect livestock farming in Scotland?

That is exactly what we are trying to do. I give that assurance to Finlay Carson, as I have done previously when his colleagues have raised with me the issue relating to a reduction in numbers. We know that we produce livestock well in Scotland, and there will continue to be a role for that into the future.

That is why our vision for agriculture and our agriculture reform programme route map make clear our commitment to enabling the producers of high-quality food to deliver on our shared outcomes for biodiversity recovery and climate adaptation and mitigation, and it is why we continue to support those sectors.

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests, which shows that I am part of a family farming partnership, and we produce beef.

Farmers have a duty to reduce their emissions in order to achieve net zero. I completely agree with that, but one measure that is needed in order to do that is keeping livestock on the farm after they are ready for slaughter. That happens with beef cattle, many of which are ready at 11 months but cannot be sold as Scotch beef until they are at 12 months. Will the cabinet secretary address that issue with QMS?

I am happy to raise the matter with QMS and to discuss it with Edward Mountain if he would like to do so.