Hall – ‘One size does not fit all’

The need to design and implement a new agricultural policy specifically tailored to the needs of Scottish farmers and crofters through a financial framework controlled by Scotland was once again pressed home to Westminster MP’S yesterday.

Speaking to the Scottish affairs committee in the House of Commons yesterday NFU Scotland policy director Jonnie Hall, right, made it plain that while there had to be cohesion between the UK and Scottish governments, farmers and crofters in Scotland faced completely different challenges from their English and Welsh counterparts, stating:

“When it comes to future policy, one size does not fit all.”

Speaking after the meeting he said that as the end of the Brexit negotiations approached it was important that the union maintained its political engagement, pushing the importance of a good Brexit deal for Scottish farming, crofting and the wider food and drink industry.

“Sessions like to today show just how highly regarded the Union’s opinion is on future agricultural policy and it is important that these opportunities are used effectively,” said Hall. l More than 99 per cent of eligible farmers, crofters and land managers have now received their 2018 Basic Payment Scheme loan offer, the Scottish Government has revealed.

Some 12,643 rural businesses had received their loan payment totalling more than £294 million since payments began in early October, said rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing.

Stating that payments had been made ahead of any other administration acrosstheukheurgedanyone who had yet to accept a loan offer to consider it carefully and respond as quickly as possible.