Support payments worth £254m on their way to Scottish farmers

Support payments worth £254 million are due to arrive in farmers’ bank accounts this week.

The payments, worth 90% of CAP Basic Support, are being paid as loans by the Scottish Government while problems continue with the £180m custom-built IT system.

Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “These payments mean over 10,600 farmers and crofters will now have received up to 90% of their entitlement earlier than ever before.

“With a further tranche being made later this week, payments worth over a quarter of a billion pounds will be injected into the rural economy showing my absolute commitment to support our rural communities,” he explained.

Mr Ewing said that although the deadline has now passed for applicants to be in the first tranche of payments, farmers can still apply for a loan.

He added: “We would encourage them to return their applications as soon as possible.

“Work continues to ensure all eligible businesses who have not yet been offered a loan, receive an offer by the end of October – these businesses can then expect payment before the end of November.”

The Government has assured farmers and crofters that they will receive the balance of their BPS entitlement between March and June 2018.

nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk

Mr Ewing says he has shown a commitment to rural communities.