Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make an assessment of the contribution of the Scotch whisky industry to the international reputation of the UK food and drink industry; and if he will make a statement.

Scotch Whisky is an important part of the UK’s overall exports, representing 20% of UK food and drink exports.

Ministers and officials from this department have regular discussions with the Scotch Whisky Association and other representatives from the industry and actively work with them to help increase whisky exports. Representatives of the Scotch Whisky Association recently joined business delegations to Africa and India led by the Prime Minister. The industry is supported in a similar way to other food and drink producers; we help them take advantage of a wide range of overseas opportunities. The importance of the industry to the UK economy cannot be overstated, being the largest export within the sector with international sales valued at over £4 billion in 2017.