Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has warmly welcomed the news of a new major distillery investment at Torabhaig, Sleat on Skye

Dave said, “This is great news, for Skye; a major £5million investment, and a second distillery for the Island.

“This is good for direct employment, but also good for indirect employment in the tourist industry as the proposed visitor centre adds to the island’s visitor experience.

“With construction set to begin in summer hopefully contractors and trades in Skye will benefit too.

“The news today is that the Malt Whisky global export market is going from strength to strength, and investments like this at Torabhaig highlight the great future we have in promoting high quality Scottish products across the world.

“It was reported recently that Scotland’s exports are within reach of breaking the £100Billion per Annum mark, and Malt Whisky plays an important role in that critical trading statistic.

“It is a worthy announcement for recognition at Parliament so I have today raised a Parliamentary Motion to mark the news.”

Note:

Parliamentary Motion below:

Motion Number: S4M-09077
Lodged By: Dave Thompson
Date Lodged: 19/02/2014

Title: New Malt Whisky Distillery on Skye

Motion Text:

That the Parliament welcomes the plans for the establishment of the Torabhaig distillery on the Isle of Skye; understands that it will be based in an early 19th century listed farmsteading on the island’s south-east coast; believes that it will generate employment on the island and in the surrounding areas; recognises that it will be Mossburn Distillers' first entry into the whisky sector; believes that it will further boost Scotland's huge global export presence; understands that Scotland's exports are close to £100 billion per year and hopes that this enterprise will help take it over that threshold; believes that, when it opens in 2015, it will make a valuable contribution both to distilling on Skye and the island’s attractiveness to international visitors, and wishes the venture every success.