Ewing pledges to provide stability by continuing with LFASS in 2019

While hill farmers and crofters in Scotland’s most remote and rural areas who rely heavily on the £65 million Less Favoured Area Support Scheme gained a last minute reprieve from EU scheme cuts this year, these will be enforced next year, it has been revealed.

However under plans outlined in the Scottish Government’s recently released post-brexit transition consultation, the Scottish Government said that in order to provide stability and support it would continue with LFASS, paying at 80 per cent of the current rates rather than undergoing the upheaval of changing to a new scheme.

Changes to the scheme have been made compulsory by the European Commission, meaning all EU member states have the option from 2019 of continuing to operate an LFASS scheme on a reduced financial scale - or replacing it with an Area of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme, a move unlikely to be auctioned due to Brexit.

However rates are set to drop drastically the following year – to 20 per cent – but rural economy secretary, Fergus Ewing said this would be “unacceptable”, adding that it was his firm intention to find a more acceptable solution. “LFASS is vital for our rural economy and remote communities, which is why I have decided to continue with the scheme in 2019 even though the UK government has stopped its support,” said Ewing.

“Providing support to more than 11,000 farmers and crofters, the scheme will continue with payments at the maximum that EU rules allow, which is 80 per cent.

“Unfortunately, I am unable to provide further certainty beyond 2019 as, despite repeated requests, the UK government has still not given clear assurances on post-brexit guarantees.”