United call for Bew review result

The Scottish Government and NFU Scotland have combined to complain about the non delivery of £160 million support cash awarded by the EU six years ago with suspicions the UK Prime Minister is holding the money back for opportunistic reasons.

The money was originally awarded by the EU to help raise the low common agricultural policy support payment rates in Scotland to levels enjoyed by other countries.

However the UK government back in 2013 chose to share the so called “convergence money” across the whole of the UK based on historic allocations, a decision that the NFUS believes was fundamentally flawed.

Union president Andrew Mccornick stated: “Since 2013, a succession of ministers have regularly attended the NFUS AGM and promised a review of the allocation of the EU uplift.”

Last October, the then Secretary of State, Michael Gove, set up an independent review into the allocation of farm support across the UK under the chairmanship of Lord Bew. This was due to report in March.

This week, Mccornick said, “We had expected the Bew review to have been published by now. Government needs to set a date for its publication; stick to it and stop delaying.”

This call was echoed by rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing who said: “Scotland’s farmers deserve to know the outcome of Lord Bew’s review.

“The recommendations should not be left to gather dust on a shelf in Whitehall while farmers face the most challenging environment for a generation as a result of an impending no deal Brexit.

“This money was intended to provide financial support to our farmers by creating a more level playing field across the EU.

“The UK only received this money because of Scotland’s farmers and therefore it should be returned to Scotland – with no strings attached – so that we can allocate it to support those who earned it and need it the most.”