Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banffshire & Buchan Coast SNP candidate Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the pledge from Nicola Sturgeon to unlock the economic potential of Scotland’s rural communities.
Meanwhile, Mr Stevenson described the devolution of marine Crown Estate revenues to Scotland’s coastal and island communities as “a welcome, long-overdue move” which the SNP had long advocated.
Under SNP plans, when Crown Estate management is devolved to Scotland, communities will get to keep 100% of net marine revenues from along their coasts and have greater say in the management of those marine resources.
Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:
“Since the SNP went into government we’ve seen a huge increase in the success of the food and drink sector. Food and drink exports have increased by 43% and we have increased sales of Scottish food and drink brands by 36%.
“Our Community Food Fund is helping to promote food tourism, farmers’ markets and food festivals, and we’ve increased the number of protected food names.
“Of course, this success is testament to the first class quality of the produce for which Scotland – and the North-east in particular- is famous. I therefore very much welcome the pledge from the First Minister that, if re-elected, an SNP Government will build further on that success by setting up a £5 million fund to promote island and regional food and drink brands at home and around the world.
"It is important that we increase marketing opportunities for our rural food and drink brands, explore new export opportunities and provide investment.
“A re-elected SNP Government will also put the new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to full effect - our plans to ensure local communities benefit fully from Crown Estate revenues is a welcome, long-overdue move which the SNP has long advocated.
“It is only by fully unlocking the economic potential of our rural and island communities that we can truly build a fairer and more prosperous Scotland – and if the SNP are re-elected in May, we will use all of the powers at our disposal to make that happen.”
“Our Community Food Fund is helping to promote food tourism, farmers’ markets and food festivals, and we’ve increased the number of protected food names.
“Of course, this success is testament to the first class quality of the produce for which Scotland – and the North-east in particular- is famous. I therefore very much welcome the pledge from the First Minister that, if re-elected, an SNP Government will build further on that success by setting up a £5 million fund to promote island and regional food and drink brands at home and around the world.
"It is important that we increase marketing opportunities for our rural food and drink brands, explore new export opportunities and provide investment.
“A re-elected SNP Government will also put the new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to full effect - our plans to ensure local communities benefit fully from Crown Estate revenues is a welcome, long-overdue move which the SNP has long advocated.
“It is only by fully unlocking the economic potential of our rural and island communities that we can truly build a fairer and more prosperous Scotland – and if the SNP are re-elected in May, we will use all of the powers at our disposal to make that happen.”
