SNP requests extra time to make farm payments

Thousands of farmers still waiting for CAP cash as Tories slam ‘culture of secrecy’ from FM

Nicola Sturgeon was accused of presiding over a “culture of secrecy” after it emerged her government is seeking an extension for delivering farm payments.

Scotland could be hit with millions of pounds in fines for missing the final deadline on June 30 to hand out the EU subsidies to the thousands of farmers still waiting.

When asked at First Minister’s Questions whether her government had been in touch with the European Commission to ask for more time, the SNP leader said they are discussing “contingency arrangements” with Brussels.

EC sources said hours later that the Scottish Government had requested for the deadline to be pushed back to October 15. The Courier understands that request was made on Tuesday.

The latest row comes after the Scottish Government has come under heavy criticism over its handling of the distribution of payments under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which has been beset by late payments amid a failing £178 million IT system.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the SNP has “once again failed to deliver on time” for Scotland’s rural economy.

“Instead of confronting this issue when I raised it with her today, the First Minister tried to duck it,” she added.

“This sorry episode only confirms that the culture of secrecy and denial in the SNP Government goes right to the top.”

A source at the European Commission said they have “now received a request from the Scottish Government to extend the payment deadline from June 30 to October 15 for direct payments”.

“This request will be considered within the terms of the legislation,” the source said.

“In the meantime, the Commission encourages the Scottish authorities to accelerate the execution of payments before the June 30 deadline.”

The delays, which have seen some farmers waiting more than 18 months, have led to a cash-flow crisis for many, with the rural communities they operate in also suffering.

Nearly 6,000 farmers are still waiting for the 2016 CAP payments, with the absolute deadline coming on Friday next week.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said they have written to the EC “to seek their agreement to extend the payment deadline – if necessary”.

He said that request is “simple prudence given the timescales involved”.

Picture: Gordon Lennox. Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing. The Scottish Government has faced heavy criticism over its handling of CAP payments to farmers and the failed IT system.