Ministers face EC fine over farming payments

The Scottish Government faces being fined for its failure to make farm subsidy payments on time after European Commission bosses refused to extend the deadline for ministers.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing confirmed in a written answer to Holyrood that the EC had indicated “it does not propose to offer an extension” for the payments.

Mr Ewing has called on the commission to reconsider and “keep open the possibility of an extension”. He said the “precise amount of any late payment penalties” the Scottish Government could have to pay would not be known for “many months”.

However, Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesman Mike Rumbles said the bill could be as much as £60 million.