To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish exports are in the food sector, and what action he is taking to promote the Scottish food sector in international markets. [7268]

In 1994, the Scottish food and drink processing industry, excluding whisky, accounted for 3 per cent. of Scottish manufacturing exports.There is a wide range of current initiatives to assist the promotion and marketing of the Scottish food industry in overseas markets. These are either done directly through the Scottish Office or through its economic development agencies Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and their network of local enterprise companies. In addition to this purely Scottish effort, Food From Britain has a United Kingdom remit to assist British food and drink companies in export markets and to promote British food and drink products.