Hint of breakthrough in policy talks between devolved nations

There was a possible hint of a breakthrough in the long-running stand-off on future funding of agricultural policy yesterday, following a meeting of the devolved administrations and UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove.

Speaking after the meeting, Scotland’s rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said that he was to seek confirmation of some of the clarifications which the UK minister had indicated on funding which covered forestry, fishing, farming and the environment and which went beyond pillar one direct farm payments.

Stating that recent uncertainty over this long-term funding for the rural economy had threatened a devastating impact on the sectors, Ewing said it was totally unacceptable that the UK government had still to give the required assurances.

“As such, I intend to write to Mr Gove to seek clear and comprehensive assurances on the commitments he gave today over guarantees on all EU rural funding - which includes forestry, fishing, farming and environment - until the end of the UK parliamentary term in 2022. If this is the case, this is a welcome development, but one, as we have been pressing for over a year, that should have been made much earlier.”

Ewing also said Gove had committed to further discussions on the carve-up of the £160 million of EU convergence uplift, a review of which had been promised for 2016.

He said: “Scottish farmers will not welcome more delaying tactics from the UK government as this money is long overdue and should have been returned to Scotland a long time ago, and I will continue to work for that outcome.”