Farm chiefs demand the immediate release of Bew review

CAP: Scots leaders blast UK Government for failure to publish findings into funding

Scottish farm leaders have called for immediate publication of a review into farm subsidy allocations across the UK.

A UK Government review group, led by Lord Bew, has been tasked with assessing intra-UK funding allocations of Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) cash and making recommendations on how this will be distributed in future.

The review group was formed following a long-running dispute over the way extra Cap funds, known as convergence uplift, were distributed across the UK.

The funds were awarded to the UK to bring Scotland’s per hectare subsidy average up, and Scottish farm leaders have long argued that around £160 million is still owed to Scotland as the full £190m allocation was not delivered north of the border.

Both Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing and NFU Scotland (NFUS) president Andrew McCornick have criticised the UK Government for not publishing the review group’s recommendations yet.

Mr Ewing said: “Scotland’s farmers deserve to know the outcome of Lord Bew’s review.

“The recommendations should not be left to gather dust on a shelf in Whitehall while farmers face the most challenging environment for a generation as a result of an impending no-deal Brexit.”

Mr McCornick agreed and said the union had expected the Bew review to have been published by now.

He said: “Since 2013, a succession of Defra ministers have regularly attended the NFUS annual general meeting and promised a review of the allocation of the EU [convergence] uplift,” added Mr McCornick.

“The Bew Review is the delivery of that promise and must be the means by which this historic injustice in allocation of monies is rectified.

“Government needs to set a date for its publication; stick to it and stop delaying.”

A Defra spokeswoman said: “We will also shortly be publishing the recommendations from an independent review, led by Lord Bew, looking at how future funding can be fairly allocated outside the EU.

“This will take into account the unique farming environments in certain parts of the UK.”

Scottish farming leaders believe money is owed by the UK Government north of the Border from the EU’s CAP allowance.