Question reference: S6W-07457
- Asked by: Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 15 March 2022
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 17 March 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, given the current global supply chain issues resulting from the Russia/Ukraine war, what engagement it is having with the food and drink industry.
Answer
Following a meeting of the Food Sector Resilience Group, a short-life Food Security and Supply Taskforce is being established by the Scottish Government jointly with key food and drink industry leaders.
The taskforce will monitor, identify and respond to any potential disruption to the food and drink supply chain resulting from the impact of the war in Ukraine. It will also seek to recommend any short, medium and longer term actions that can be taken to mitigate impacts, resolve supply issues and strengthen food security and supply in Scotland. This will include actions to be taken by business and Government.
The taskforce will draw on technical and scientific knowledge and expertise from across a range of sectors, agencies and organisations. It will also consider any future structures and policy measures needed to monitor, address and strengthen food security and supply in Scotland.
Crucially, the Taskforce will support the Scottish Government’s continued commitment to use all powers it has available to support people in Ukraine.
Membership will be drawn from relevant sector organisations and the Food Security and Supply Taskforce will be co-chaired by myself and Chief Executive of Scotland Food and Drink, James Withers. It is intended for the Taskforce to meet frequently in the coming weeks.