To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the economy secretary and business Minister have had with the United Kingdom Government regarding tariff exemptions and other support for the Scotch whisky industry. (S6O-04918)

My ministerial colleagues and I regularly meet those in the sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities that they face. In July, I wrote to the responsible UK Government Minister to call for action on several trade issues that the Scotch whisky sector faces, as do those producing other iconic Scottish products. As members will be aware, the First Minister has been leading from the front on our intensive engagement with the sector. He has also raised the important issue with the Prime Minister and, this week, directly with the US President. Removing the 10 per cent tariff barrier between the US and Scotland would, of course, deliver economic benefits for both countries.

The Scotch Whisky Association recently released new data that shows that more than 1,000 jobs have been lost in the Scotch whisky industry since the most recent United Kingdom budget. In addition to the excise duty increase, the UK Labour Government introduced a national insurance increase, and energy prices remain too high, impacting energy-intensive industries that can access no support.

Ahead of the next UK budget, what representations will the Scottish Government make to the UK Government to ensure that our economy and businesses are better supported to weather difficult economic headwinds?

Gordon MacDonald raises good points. Last night, along with many other members, I was at an event that was hosted by the Scotch Whisky Association in Edinburgh, and I can say that the First Minister’s standing up for the sector and taking its case directly to Washington went down like a fine dram with the industry. We now need the same approach from the UK Government to deliver on the tariff deal—it now has an opportunity to do that—and to address issues such as the alcohol duty, because the reduction in draught duty in the last budget increased the disadvantage that the spirits sector faces in our country and the inherent unfairness in the alcohol duty system.

Other issues, such as the rise in national insurance contributions, also affect the hospitality sector and, in turn, the Scotch whisky industry. Like Gordon MacDonald, I hope that the UK Government will now stand up for the whisky industry and address those issues in its forthcoming budget.

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests in relation to hospitality that I have received from the Scotch Whisky Association.

I join my fellow co-convener of the cross-party group on Scotch whisky in welcoming any moves to reduce damaging tariffs and costs on the industry. However, I am surprised that the Minister cannot see the contradiction in the Scottish National Party position. If we were members of the European Union, as the SNP demands, we would currently be facing 15 per cent tariffs on Scotch whisky exports, not the 10 per cent that we have as part of the United Kingdom. It is only Brexit freedoms—which we would not have if we were in the EU—that give us the opportunity to negotiate away those tariffs. [Interruption.]

Let us hear one another.

When is the SNP going to rethink its damaging policy on rejoining the EU, which would cause such destruction in the Scotch whisky sector?

If Murdo Fraser was paying attention, he would know that the Scottish Government does not want any tariffs on Scotch whisky, be they 15 per cent or 10 per cent. Just as his Government for many years failed the Scotch whisky industry in relation to the 75 per cent duty that was placed on every bottle of Scotch whisky, thanks to his party, the current UK Government has a lot to do if it is going to stand up for the Scotch whisky industry. It can address that in its forthcoming budget, as well as by following in the footsteps of the First Minister by raising the tariff issue with the United States and concluding the deal, now that the First Minister has set the scene for it.