6February2017
TwoMembers Reappointed to the Board of Quality Meat Scotland
The Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, FergusEwing MSP today announced the reappointment of RonnieEunson and LouiseWelsh as Members of the Board of Quality Meat Scotland from 1April2017.
RonnieEunson is a farmer at Uradale producing organic native Shetland beef and lamb to customers across the UK. His farm carries 900sheep and 90cattle, ranging from hill tops to shore lines. MrEunson is Chair of the Shetland Livestock Marketing Group which operates Shetland’s mart and abattoir and is also Chair of the Scottish Island Abattoir Association which promotes meat sales and processing from the sevenisland abattoirs.
LouiseWelsh has worked at a high level in the food industry for over 15years, including fiveyears in senior management at Morrison’s, one of the UK’s big foursupermarkets. She has an in-depth knowledge of all stages of the food chain: from the farm through to processing and all the way to the end consumer. Prior to moving to the food industry, MsWelsh was a journalist and worked for BBCScotland. She is a skilled communicator and negotiator. In addition to her Quality Meat Scotland role MsWelsh is Vice Chair of Food Standards Scotland and a Board Member of the Moredun Foundation.
Reappointments
MrEunson will be reappointed for twoyears from 1April2017 to 31March2019 with MsWelsh being reappointed for fouryears from 1April2017 to 31March2021.
The reappointments are part time and attract remuneration of £180.00per day for an average of 10to 15days each year.
The reappointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
Other Ministerial Appointments
MsWelsh is Vice-Chair of the Board of Food Standards Scotland board for which she receives remuneration of £11,000per annum for a time commitment of fivedays per month.
Mr Eunson does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
Political Activity
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last fiveyears (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
MrEunson and MsWelsh have had no political activity in the last fiveyears.
Background
Quality Meat Scotland(QMS) is the public body responsible for promoting the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands in the UK and abroad. QMS also supports the Scottish red meat sector improve its sustainability, efficiency and profitability and maximise its contribution to Scotland's economy. The quality assurance schemes run by QMS cover more than 90% of livestock farmed for red meat in Scotland.
Scotland’s red meat industry makes an important contribution to the country’s economy, contributing around £2billion to the annual GDP of Scotland and supporting around 30,000jobs, many in fragile rural areas.
QMS is funded through a statutory levy of Scottish farmers and abattoir operators.