Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing the Scotch whisky industry with a sectoral deal to promote its competitiveness and growth.

As part of the Industrial Strategy Government we are supporting sectors across the economy to grow, invest and reach their potential. Our new approach challenges sectors to upgrade through “Sector Deals” - an ‘open door’ challenge to industry to come to us with proposals to transform their sector.

In June 2017 my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to the CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association welcoming their intention to develop proposals for a sector deal for the Scotch Whisky sector. We look forward to working closely with the sector.