Details on support post-Brexit is welcomed

SCOTTISH Land and Estates has welcomed new details on post-Brexit rural support and has urged the UK and Scottish governments to work together to deliver further progress in future.

The organisation, which represents land-based businesses across Scotland, said the speech by UK Environment Secretary Michael Gove to the Oxford Farming Conference recognised its own view that a move towards improved profitability in farming, with public support for public goods, was required but that a significant transitional period was necessary.

David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land and Estates, said: ‘It is pleasing that we are now starting to see more detail emerge on rural support for the post-Brexit landscape.

‘The Environment Secretary has set out where he wants to see change delivered in four key areas and, in particular, his latest commitment to ensuring transitional arrangements from the CAP is to be welcomed.

‘It is clear that the UK government’s long-term vision sees public support being delivered in return for public goods, with a greater emphasis on enhancing natural capital such as carbon storage, and improved soil, air and water quality. This chimes with our own thinking in our policy paper, A new direction for Scottish land management.

‘It is to be expected that this will precipitate substantial change in farming, where businesses look to restructure how they operate or, in some cases, depart the sector if that is the best option for them. We look forward to further details on post-Brexit policy and support emerging from the Scottish government in the coming months.

‘The Scottish Government has already signalled its support for a suitable transitional period and the speech from Mr Gove underlines the importance of both governments working collaboratively to develop the mechanics that will create the best possible environment for Scottish farming moving forward after Brexit.’