Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky
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This article is part of the Spinwatch public health oriented Alcohol Portal project. |
The Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky was developed to give MSPs a better understanding of the scotch whisky industry. Whisky is an important to the Scottish economy, and has interests in several areas including exports, employment, tourism, environmental and public health issues. This group acts as a platform where politicians and other stakeholders can debate issues relevant to scotch whisky.[1]
Members
- MSPs: Mary Scanlon, Joint Convener | John Park, Joint Convener | Annabelle Ewing, Joint Vice Convener | David Stewart, Joint Vice Convener | Jackie Baillie | Claudia Beamish | Jackson Carlaw | Rob Gibson | Christine Grahame | Mary Fee | Hugh Henry | Liam McArthur | Margaret Mitchell | Dennis Robertson
- Non-MSPs: Alastair Ross | Andrew Scobie | Devin Scobie (The Scobie's are not related) [2]
- Organisation & Representatives: Scotch Whisky Association | Diageo | Chivas Brothers | Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)[3]
Conflict of Interests
Devin Scobie is the founder of Caledonia Consulting a lobbying company, and Andrew Scobie is one of their senior consultants. The Herald reported recently thata cross bencher in the House of Lords, Baron Watson of Invergowrie, Mike Watson, has been one of Caledonia Consulting's associate directors since 2007. Watson served a 16 month prison sentence for drunkenly setting fire to a hotels curtains after failing to win the Diageo and Herald sponsored Scottish Politician of the Year Event in 2004. He plead guilty but argued that he had experienced an alcohol related 'blackout' [4]
Devin Scobie commented “As far as I’m concerned it’s not a big deal. We are just going along as observers and the next meeting is not until February. Mike has not really done a great deal for the company this year full stop.” John Park one of the co-conveners said he was unaware of this connection and would speak to Scobie about it “We need to think very carefully about the types of people involved in cross-party groups"[5]
References
- ↑ Scottish Parliament, Cross-Party Groups in the Scottish Parliament- Registration Form, no date given, accessed 5th October 2011
- ↑ Tom Gordon and Paul Hutcheon, Drunk fire-raising Lord’s links to firm set to give whisky advice to Holyrood The Herald 25th September 2011, accessed 6th October 2011
- ↑ Scottish Parliament, Cross-Party Groups in the Scottish Parliament- Registration Form, no date given, accessed 5th October 2011
- ↑ Tom Gordon and Paul Hutcheon, Drunk fire-raising Lord’s links to firm set to give whisky advice to Holyrood The Herald 25th September 2011, accessed 6th October 2011
- ↑ Tom Gordon and Paul Hutcheon, Drunk fire-raising Lord’s links to firm set to give whisky advice to Holyrood The Herald 25th September 2011, accessed 6th October 2011
