Spectre of withdrawal of support raised

Scots farm minister Richard Lochhead yesterday slammed the UK Government for not giving assurances over the future of farm subsidy support in the event of the UK leaving Europe.

He said alarm bells should be ringing on every farm and croft in Scotland at Defra Secretary Liz Truss’ refusal to give answers on the issue.

At a press briefing at yesterday’s Royal Highland Show Ms Truss refused to say if farm subsidy support would continue if the UK leaves Europe. She was asked the question five times. Her response was that Government was confident about securing a good deal during negotiations in Europe and that the public would vote to stay in the union in the upcoming referendum.

Mr Lochhead said: “Liz Truss’ evasiveness and refusal to commit to funding Scottish agriculture should the UK leave the EU should set alarm bells ringing on every farm and croft in Scotland.

“Clearly without the £500 million of direct payments we receive each year from the CAP, many sectors of Scottish

The Scottish Government will not allow this to fall off the agenda.

RICHARD LOCHHEAD

farming would implode, especially in our more remote areas,” he added.

Mr Lochhead added: “Her lack of commitment on such a key pertinent question that she knew she was going to be asked not only shows there’s no plan B but shows that there is likely to be a plan A to stop agricultural support as soon as possible.”

Ms Truss also threw another spanner in the works during her first visit to the show when she refused to give a timescale for the long-awaited review of CAP budgets within the UK.

“We are looking at the timescale in which we can conduct the review,” said Ms Truss, refusing to back up previous claims by UK Government that a review would take place in either 2016 or 2017.

Mr Lochhead described this as “rubbing salt in the wounds” of Scots farmers and crofters.

“The Scottish Government will not allow this to fall off the agenda, especially given that Scotland recently sent a loud message to the UK Government in the UK elections – this can be no better example of that being ignored by going back on previous commitments,” added Mr Lochhead.