Demand for new loan system

The Scottish Conservatives’ rural affairs spokesman Peter Chapman has called on the Scottish Government to agree a new loan system for subsidy payments to farmers and crofters.

Mr Chapman, who is also a farmer, said producers could ill afford to have delays to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments again this year.

In a parliament speech, Mr Chapman said: “If there is any doubt that payments will be delayed again this year, a loan scheme must be put in place at once.

“Farming incomes across Scotland have plummeted and we cannot have another year of payment delays.

“Average incomes have fallen by 75% in the last five years, and 48% in the last year alone to an unsustainable average of just £12,600, and that is after receiving CAP payments, meaning many farming families have been left in despair and unable to pay their bills.”

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said a government-backed loan scheme for subsidy payments remained an option for 2017.