Call for clarity over UK government support

Scotland’s farmers and growers need to be reassured that commitments made by the UK government on farm support spending will be carried forward by the new administration following the announcement of the snap general election.

With the UK government’s commitment to maintain total cash spend on farm support at existing levels extending until “2022 or the end of the current Parliament”, the announcement of an early election has raised fears over a possible “whichever is earlier” type clause in the delivery of the funds.

And yesterday Scotland’s rural economy secretary, Fergus Ewing, announced he had contacted the UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Theresa Villiers, calling for urgent written clarity on future funding.

Ewing said that following the announcement of the election last week, the Scottish Government and stakeholders needed to know that the UK government would stand by the 2022 commitment and provide clarity on the exact definition of “farm support”.

He said that despite repeated calls from the Scottish Government to ensure all lost EU funding was replaced in full, there was still uncertainty as to what the commitments from Westminster covered: “For example, there is also no detail on the proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund and its relationship with what is currently covered by CAP Pillar 2.”

He said that despite statements by Villier’s predecessor, Michael Gove, that “farm support” covered all of CAP Pillar 1 and

2 (including for example Leader, forestry and food and drink), including directly to Scottish stakeholders, the UK government had yet to provide any written detail on this commitment.

And while recent talks between officials had supported this approach, Ewing asked for written confirmation.

“A sudden gap in funding will have particular implications for rural communities and businesses across Scotland and it is imperative that you clarify the position as soon as possible,” wrote Ewing.