Sturgeon accused of ‘dishonesty’ in row over payment delays to farmers
The Scottish Government has been accused of “dishonesty” over farm payments after it was confirmed that vital EU cash will be late reaching farmers for the second year in a row over a botched £178 million IT system.
Opposition parties siezed on the revelations that the issue had been raised at meeting of the Scottish cabinet last week – but Nicola Sturgeon and rural affairs secretary Fergus Ewing later dodged questions about the payments from MSPS at Holyrood.
Mr Ewing said officials expected to process around 90 per cent of payments before Friday, falling short of the EU’S 95.2 per cent target.
Labour rural affairs spokeswoman Rhoda Grant said: “Fergus Ewing has confirmed SNP ministers were told about his intention to beg Brussels 0 Fergus Ewing under attack over payment delay for an extension to deadlines, only for both him and Nicola Sturgeon to later plead ignorance to MSPS. This dishonesty has done nothing but add insult to injury. Farmers and crofters have faced foul-up after foul-up – and Fergus Ewing has lost their confidence.”
Ms Sturgeon refused to confirm last Thursday if the government had asked for another extension when pressed on the issue at First Minister’s Ques- tions. Mr Ewing was asked yesterday if the First Minister would have been aware of plans to seek an extension to the deadline and revealed it had been raised at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
He said: “It was something that was in contemplation, it was being considered. The final decision about making the formal application was one that obviously wasn’t taken until we made the application, because we did not wish to make an application unless we believed it was a prudent and necessary step.”
Responding to claims of failing to mention it in a Holyrood debate on the issue, he said: “If thecriticismisididn’tmention things in a political speech, in a political debate about a letter that was sent out the same day, I think we are moving into somewhat fanciful territory.”