NFUS concerned over Brexit readiness costs
With Defra tooling up and increasing manpower to deal with the complexities and additional duties coming its way in the postbrexit world, a call has been made for a similar approach to be taken by the Scottish Government.
And yesterday NFU Scotland sought reassurances that appropriate levels of staffing and financial resource were being committed to make sure the administration would be ready to take on the obligations arising after Brexit.
Having the capacity to deliver and implement a new Scottish agricultural policy would, the union argued, be key to ensuring a viable farming sector.
In a letter to cabinet secretary for finance and constitution Derek Mackay, the union stressed that the Scottish Government’s preparedness for the challenges ahead was becoming increasingly vital. The plea was made against a background of 650 vacancies across the department of the environment,foodandruralaffairs (Defra) south of the Border – with a further 550 staff to be appointed to meet the additional requirements of EU exit. And while £94.4 million had been allocated to the ministry by the UK treasury to fund its exit programme in 2017-18, the union said the English ministry would also share in a further £3 billion earmarked by the Chancellor for Brexit preparations.
“Scotland’s farmers and crofters are seeking reassurances over Scotland’s internal capacity to ensure we are as ready as we can be for our impending exit from the CAP [common agricultural policy],” said NFUS president Andrew Mccornick.
“I sympathise with the significant challenge that Brexit readiness will present but my firm view is that the Scottish Government’s preparedness for the challenges ahead is increasingly vital.
“The Brexit clock is ticking, and we understand that so far £6.6m has been allocated from the UK government to the Scottish Government to prepare for Brexit.”
He said that as farming was the sector most affected by the change, extra money was required to ensure the agriculture and rural economy department had the necessary resources to cope with the sizeable task ahead.
“We all want to secure the best Brexit deal for Scotland, so I am keen to learn what additional resources Scottish Government will invest in the Scottish rural and environmental portfolios to build a new Scottish agricultural policy while also ensuring we have the necessary expertise on the many issues that will arise from the implementation of any new trade and export policy after EU exit.
“I would be pleased to work with the cabinet secretary and his officials to deliveraco-ordinatedmessage to UK government on finding a fair financial settlement after Brexit – not least in light of the frustrating delay to the review of the CAP convergence and budget allocations that emerged last Friday,” concluded Mccornick.
bhenderson@farming.co.uk