Chamber and committees

Can you confirm, then, that there will be no disruptions to exports or the trading of fresh produce if there are changes to border controls?

Thank you.

My question is about cash flow in food production. Can you explain what exactly the UK Government has done to encourage banks to lend with agility so that cash flow can be maintained?

I would be interested to know who is responsible for paying for the extra test.

Good morning, secretary of state. Any disruptions to trade have knock-on effects for local economies, workers and job security. You referred to the salmon sector in an earlier response; I want to draw your attention to a letter yesterday from the chief executive of Salmon Scotland to the Prime Minister, in which he expressed serious concern about

“a trade war with Europe”,

highlighting that the salmon industry is the biggest fresh food exporter in the UK and that

“12,000 people ... rely on”

the industry

“for their livelihoods”.

What is the UK Government doing to ensure that, for industries that rely on trading fresh produce, there will be no disruption to exports as a result of changes to border controls?

My amendment 42 seeks to strengthen the human rights commitments in the bill by adding to the list of international instruments that is provided in section 3. It seeks to insert in that list, after the reference to article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, so far as it concerns adequate food,

“the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment 12, Right to adequate food”.

General comment 12 contains details on states’ obligations relating to the production, availability and affordability of, and the provision of access to, adequate food. Therefore, referring to not only article 11 but general comment 12 gives a human rights perspective on food issues a much stronger basis in the bill and demonstrates a strong commitment to ensuring that our national good food nation plans are in line with the international human rights agreements on the right to adequate food.

Amendment 26A, in my name, would amend amendment 26, in the name of Rhoda Grant. I support amendment 26 and the establishment of an independent Scottish food commission. I believe that the commission would be essential in co-ordinating good food nation plans across the food policy landscape.

My amendment 26A adds to the functions of the commission, listed in amendment 26, by specifying that it would have the functions of co-ordinating with relevant authorities in the development of their good food nation plans, promoting good practice in relation to good food nation plans and monitoring the implementation of good food nation plans. I believe that those are key roles that the Scottish food commission could play if the bill is enacted.

I move amendment 26A.

I support the principles behind Colin Smyth’s amendment 11. My amendment 11A would add the phrase “environmental and social” after the word “international” in the phrase “Scotland’s international footprint” to clarify the meaning of the phrase. That is in line with my amendment 6A and would encompass Scotland’s carbon footprint and its international environment, ecological and social impacts.

I wish to remove the word “carbon” in order to widen the ecological impact and human rights obligations. I have a feeling that the phrase “environmental and social”, which is used in the amendment, better encompasses the idea of the international footprint.

What was your second question?

That is a good point. I do not think that there is a legal definition of “social”.