Scotch whisky industry defends UK government

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has defended the British Government following claims its embassies have discriminated against Scottish businesses.

The SWA said it does not pay to use UK embassy buildings when promoting its products abroad

As reported in The Telegraph, a representative of pro-separatist Business for Scotland told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme that Scottish companies were unfairly paying the UK Government for promoting their products and services abroad.

The allegation reflects that of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which argued Scottish companies are charged for promoting Scotch whisky in UK embassies, while other UK trade and investment groups are allowed to use the facilities for free.

“Scottish taxpayers are being double-charged by the Foreign Office to promote one of the UK’s biggest exports,” said SNP Westminster leader and Moray MP Angus Robertson in May this year. “Scotland’s whisky industry has been going from strength to strength – but with little thanks to the UK Government.”

The party claimed investment and trade promotion group Scottish Development International paid £3000 for each reception it held in UK embassies to promote Scotch whisky.

Both the SNP and Business for Scotland are ardently campaigning for Scotland to become independent from the UK during this month’s referendum.

However, both the SWA and UK Government have refuted such claims. Industry body the SWA said it does not pay for hiring embassy rooms when promoting its products abroad.

While the UK Government has denied giving unfair priority to English companies abroad, a spokesperson for the pro-unity group Better Together said the referendum “must be based on facts rather than misleading claims by nationalists”.

The row follows the publication of an open letter signed by business leaders, including a number of Scotch whisky executives, calling for Scotland to stay part of the UK.

The SWA has not officially spoken out against Scottish independence, but its CEO David Frost has warned of the “potential risks” to the Scotch industry if a “yes” vote is cast.