News Update (7th August 2009)
Forthcoming debate in the Scottish Parliament
Willie Coffey MSP has submitted the following motion to the parliament:
S3M-04647# Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Scottish National Party): Campaign Against Diageo Closures— That the Parliament, further to motion S3M-04568 lodged on 6 July 2009, notes that a major cross-party campaign has been established to oppose Diageos restructuring proposals that would see the closure of plants at Kilmarnock, Hurlford and Port Dundas with the loss of hundreds of jobs in the Scotch whisky industry and a devastating impact on local communities; endorses the statement by the First Minister calling these proposals socially unacceptable; welcomes the action of the Scottish Government in commissioning an alternative business plan for consideration by Diageo, and echoes the call of thousands of people who took part in the march and rally in Kilmarnock on 26 July for a secure and successful future for the workers and their communities and for the company.
By 6 August, the motion had received the support of the following MSPs: Sandra White, Dr Alasdair Allan, Trish Godman, Maureen Watt, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Bill Wilson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Aileen Campbell, Michael Matheson, John Scott, Stewart Maxwell, Dr Christopher Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Ross Finnie, Kenneth Gibson, Nigel Don, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Andrew Welsh.
As the motion has received cross-party support, from Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and SNP members, it is eligible to be considered for a debate, led by Mr Coffey in the debating chamber of the parliament. The planned date for such a debate is the first day the parliament returns after the recess, 2nd September. This will be confirmed by the parliaments Business Bureau.
Call for an inquiry into the Scotch whisky industry
Willie Coffey MSP has called for the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee of the Scottish Parliament to conduct an inquiry into the Scotch whisky industry. Mr Coffeys call for an inquiry came after he was approached by people within the industry concerned that it has been less successful in recent years than might have been expected of such an internationally renowned product. Among the evidence Mr Coffey has drawn to the committees attention is that releases of whisky to the UK market have dropped by about 40% in the past 30 years, despite alcohol sales in the UK increasing substantially over that period. The announcement of a further 100 redundancies by Whyte & McKay has emphasised the need for the parliament to understand where this important industry is going. The convenor of the committee, Ian Smith MSP, has confirmed that the committee will meet on 9th September and will consider the call for an inquiry at that meeting.
Willie Coffey MSP has submitted the following motion to the parliament:
S3M-04647# Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Scottish National Party): Campaign Against Diageo Closures— That the Parliament, further to motion S3M-04568 lodged on 6 July 2009, notes that a major cross-party campaign has been established to oppose Diageos restructuring proposals that would see the closure of plants at Kilmarnock, Hurlford and Port Dundas with the loss of hundreds of jobs in the Scotch whisky industry and a devastating impact on local communities; endorses the statement by the First Minister calling these proposals socially unacceptable; welcomes the action of the Scottish Government in commissioning an alternative business plan for consideration by Diageo, and echoes the call of thousands of people who took part in the march and rally in Kilmarnock on 26 July for a secure and successful future for the workers and their communities and for the company.
By 6 August, the motion had received the support of the following MSPs: Sandra White, Dr Alasdair Allan, Trish Godman, Maureen Watt, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Bill Wilson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Aileen Campbell, Michael Matheson, John Scott, Stewart Maxwell, Dr Christopher Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Ross Finnie, Kenneth Gibson, Nigel Don, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Andrew Welsh.
As the motion has received cross-party support, from Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and SNP members, it is eligible to be considered for a debate, led by Mr Coffey in the debating chamber of the parliament. The planned date for such a debate is the first day the parliament returns after the recess, 2nd September. This will be confirmed by the parliaments Business Bureau.
Call for an inquiry into the Scotch whisky industry
Willie Coffey MSP has called for the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee of the Scottish Parliament to conduct an inquiry into the Scotch whisky industry. Mr Coffeys call for an inquiry came after he was approached by people within the industry concerned that it has been less successful in recent years than might have been expected of such an internationally renowned product. Among the evidence Mr Coffey has drawn to the committees attention is that releases of whisky to the UK market have dropped by about 40% in the past 30 years, despite alcohol sales in the UK increasing substantially over that period. The announcement of a further 100 redundancies by Whyte & McKay has emphasised the need for the parliament to understand where this important industry is going. The convenor of the committee, Ian Smith MSP, has confirmed that the committee will meet on 9th September and will consider the call for an inquiry at that meeting.
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