Ewing angry at claims farm payouts aren’t good value

Scotland’ s ru ra le cono my secretary, Fergus Ewing, has reacted angrily to suggestions from the UK Treasury that current farm payments do not represent good value for the taxpayer.

Pointing out that in Scotland the EU’ s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes helped deliver a wide range of benefits and outcomes-including supporting th er ur alec onomy, producing high quality food for the nation, biodiversity, climate change and supporting Scotland’s rural and remote communities – Ewing said the Scottish Government was clear that they did represent value for money.

And writing to Defra Minister of State, George Eustice, he expressed alarm that the Treasury thought otherwise – and asked for urgent clarification on the minster’s viewpoint.

Acknowledging that the UK government had promised to guarantee farm support level for the duration of the current parliament, Ewing said that because of the value delivered by these payments it was crucial that the detail of the commitment was understood.

He also said that CAP payments had ex tended beyond farming and had also covered forestry and environmental payments –yet no assurances had been given that the proposed budget would cover these areas.

Stating that it was vital that all elements of the existing CAP continued to be covered, he said these represented a crucial plank in the fight against climate change, and in supporting rural businesses which were an important lifeline for communities across Scotland. Fully involving the devolved administration sin decisions relating to future funding will ensure that these crucial issues are considered.”