Fears start-up cash running out

The Scottish Government has come under fire for spending nearly 90% of its Young Farmer Start-up Grant Scheme budget in year one.

North-east Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles yesterday accused the government of poor planning after it emerged £5.23million of the £6million budget for the fouryear scheme had been used in its first year.

This leaves £770,000 for the next three years, which equates to the equivalent of just over £250,000 a year for the remainder of the scheme. In a written question to government, Mr Rumbles was informed that 90 young farmers had been given financial support through the scheme.

“Though I welcome the assistance to a number of young aspiring farmers that has already been made, this is incredibly unfair on those applying for future rounds of the grant who will lose out,” said Mr Rumbles.

“A great deal of effort is put in to completing these applications and young farmers may well feel their efforts are all for naught. Assurances must be given that those aspiring to become farmers on their own will be given the support they need and deserve. “I have been advised by the minister that the government is considering options for additional funding to the scheme, however, more rapid action is required. If the government is committed to attracting new blood to the industry they need to put their money where their mouth is and commit to additional funds.”

Fergus Ewing, government spokeswoman for the rural economy, last night said: “Our start up grants for young farmers have been a real success, with 90 young people receiving the support they need to become farmers. Only a Liberal Democrat could see that as a problem.

“Of course, we want to do more and we are currently considering options to provide additional funding to enable more of the next generation of farmers to make their contribution to the future well-being of our rural economy.”

Mike Rumbles