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<p>I am in regular contact with the Chancellor for the Exchequer and all members of
the Cabinet to discuss how best the UK Government can support sectors of the Scottish
economy, including the wholesale food and drink sector.</p><p> </p><p>At the last
budget delivered in March I was pleased to see the Scotch whisky industry getting
a welcome boost, with a freeze on spirits and a commitment to a review of alcohol
duty, and £10 million help to develop green technology. I was also extremely happy
to see £1 million investment in promoting Scottish produce to overseas markets.</p><p>
</p><p>The wholesale food and drink sector in Scotland has also been considered as
part of the UK Government’s broader Covid-19 support. This included the support offered
through the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme which
have protected the incomes of almost 800,000 people in Scotland – more than a quarter
of the workforce. This is in addition to the various loans and guarantees to help
UK businesses survive the economic fallout from coronavirus. However, our response
to Covid-19 must be UK-wide and that’s why we have announced over £7 billion of additional
funding to the devolved administrations to support people, business and public services
in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This means £3.8 billion for the Scottish
Government, £2.2 billion for the Welsh Government and £1.2 billion for the Northern
Ireland Executive.</p>
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