NFU seeks talks over funding blow for agriculture
While the small print of R is hi Sun ak’ s Spending Review was still being analysed, Scotland’s farming leaders last night feared that the sector was set to suffer the £170 million short fall in farm funding which had been identified by the devolved administrations earlier in the week.
Speaking as the announcement was still being scrutinised, NFU Scotland President Andrew Mccornick said the union was calling for an urgent meeting with the Government to raise its concerns about the implications of the announcement on funding.
“At a time o fun precedented uncertainty for the farming sector we cannot afford to lose any support that was genuinely expected ,” said M cC or nick .“A short fall of the order of £170 million for Scotland over the term of the current parliament, as identified in the joint letter from devolved administrations, would be unacceptable and will significantly disadvantage farmers and crofters as we enter a potentially chaotic and turbulent posttransition period.”
The Treasury said that the UK government had committed to maintain the
funding available to farmers and land managers in ever y year of this Parliament, sup - p le men tin g the remaining EU funding that farmers and land managers across the UK would receive for agri- environment and rural develop - ment projects.
However the £570 million which the Treasury report said would go to Scottish farmers – backed up by a one year £25 million boost due under the Bew review – also fell short of the £595 million figure which had been promised for the full run of the UK Parliament earlier in the day by Defra Secretary, George Eustice during an evidence session with the Scottish Parliament’s rural economy committee.
Commenting on the muchanticipated review, Sarah-jane Laing, chief executive at Scottish Land & Estates, said that Scotland’s rural economy was facing up to the impending challenge of an as yet undefined new relationship with Europe:
“Any short-terms ta bi lity which can be provided is therefore welcome and the confirmation of funding support for farmers and land managers in the devolved nations is positive from the UK Government,” said Laing.
“In Scotland, we are awaiting details of how the Scottish Government intends to replace the Common Agricultural Policy after 2024 and it is important that we use these intervening years to plan for a new future support package.”
She added that the £600 billion promised over 5 years for a National Infrastructure Strategy also had the potential to provide a real boost for rural areas:
“The lack of infrastructure spending in our rural locations has often inhibited the potential to create jobs and grow economic output and we look forward to seeing how it can address many of these issues.
But she said that the projected unemployment statistics demonstrated the weight of the challenge faced by the UK in the wake of the pandemic, adding: “But despite the tests faced by sectors such as tourism this year, Scotland’s rural businesses are determined to play their part in the recovery. We hope today’s announcements can go some way to aiding that process.”