Scottish ministers urged to set out options for post-Brexit support

Scottish ministers have been urged to publish options for agricultural support post-Brexit, with the Tories arguing the sector has been left in “complete limbo”.

Rural businesses will no longer receive subsidies through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) when the UK leaves the EU.

The UK’s Environment Secretary Michael Gove has told farmers the Government will guarantee subsidies at the current EU level until the 2022 election.

The Scottish Government set up the National Council of Rural Advisers last year to look at future rural support north of the border, with the group due to produce a report shortly.

However, Holyrood’s opposition parties accused ministers of dragging their heels.

Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron said the sector in Scotland was “becoming increasingly distressed at the lack of any concrete proposals for funding arrangements post-Brexit”.

“Scotland’s farming sector remains in complete limbo because of the dereliction of duty from this government when it comes to laying out the substance of future support,” he said.

Scottish Labour’s Colin Smyth said he shared ministers’ concerns on the lack of certainty over the final Brexit settlement but added: “That can’t be used as a shield by the Scottish Government not to set out what its vision is for post-Brexit support for agriculture and rural Scotland.”

The Scottish Liberal Democrats were also critical, with Mike Rumbles, the party’s rural affairs spokesman, stating rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing was “neglecting his duty to safeguard the sector and leaving farmers insecure”.

Mr Ewing said UK ministers had failed to provide clarity on funding and future trade arrangements.

“Scotland’s farming sector remains in complete limbo ... SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE MSP DONALD CAMERON