Tory MSP hits out at plans to cut millions in support schemes

Scottish Government says figures are ‘indicative future budgets’

Tens of millions of pounds are being cut from projects aimed at helping farming communities, new figures show.

A parliamentary statement reveals the Scottish Government plans to reduce support for less favourable areas by £40 million and remove £42m from climate change schemes.

The changes were revealed in a written statement from Rural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing after a parliamentary question from Tory MSP Peter Chapman.

Mr Ewing set out revisions to the budget for the Scottish Rural Development Programme, which will run until 2020.

Funding for the less favoured area support scheme will be reduced from £459m to £419m while the agrienvironment climate scheme, which supports green projects, will be cut from £350m to £308m.

Mr Chapman, the party’s rural affairs spokesman, said: “Money for farms in less favourable areas is absolutely vital.

“These are the businesses who need the investment most and now it’s being reduced significantly by an SNP government which has turned its back on rural Scotland.

“When you consider the shambles of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) payments fiasco, it paints a grim picture for farmers across the country.

“This announcement effectively removes tens of millions of pounds from a sector that simply can’t afford it. It’s no wonder rural Scotland is deserting this nationalist government which is obsessed with central belt issues.”

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Keith Brown said: “These are indicative future budgets and, as yet, no funding has been removed from CAP.

“European Commission rules mean that we are not able to continue LFASS (Less Favoured Area Support Scheme) in its current form beyond this year.

“Notwithstanding that we have decided to maintain the current LFASS scheme in 2018 at 80% of the current payment rates – the maximum permissible under EU rules – and encourage farmers and crofters to apply to other CAP schemes.

“We would potentially be able to plug the gap next year if the UK Government handed over £160m of remaining convergence uplift money that is rightfully Scotland’s.

“It has failed to do this despite promising previously to do so, and despite me pressing this matter with UK ministers on several occasions.

“We have also written to UK Government for confirmation that funding for LFASS will be available in 2019. Again we have received no response.

“We would very much welcome crossparty support for our efforts to ensure Scotland continues to receive its fair share of funding for farming and crofting in the next few years, and indeed, beyond 2020.”

When you consider the shambles of the CAP payments fiasco, it paints a grim picture for farmers across the country. PETER CHAPMAN

Peter Chapman, left, claims tens of millions of pounds are effectively being removed from a sector that cannot afford it. Keith Brown, right, says the figures are indicative future budgets and, as yet, no funding has been removed from CAP, and...