Tories attack ‘lack of vision’ from government
Some 36 public consultations, ten reports and five task forces set up – but still no vision. That was how the Scottish Government’s progress to date towards a new policy for Scottish agriculture was summed up by the Scottish Conservatives.
Revealing their own five-point plan outlining how they believe the sector should develop, the Tories recently launched a stinging attack on what they termed SNP inaction, claiming that while farmers in England and Wales knew what was being asked of them, producers in Scotland remained in the dark.
Claiming that it was widely recognised that the common agricultural Policy was not fit for purpose, the Conservatives’ plan asserted that a new system which was better suited to the Scottish situation was required.
Arguing that food product ion should beat the heart of farming, the party document stated that any futures up port-system should be designed to make Scottish agriculture more productive and more efficient.
“Increased product ivit y and efficiency means embracing new technologies ,” said the report, which was released during last week’s Scottish party conference.
The Conservative programme would focus on providing financial sup - port for new techno logiessuc hG PS targeted input systems for arable farms, livestock handling systems, and weighing systems, which, it was claimed would lead to “smarter” and more efficient farming.
The widely differing requirements of Scotland’s diverse agriculture would be delivered through a menu of targeted options, tailored to regional and sectoral needs.
And while the importance of less favoured area support measures were highlighted, the document also proposed that there should be a continuation of baseline basic payments to underwrite some sectors.
Revealing the plan at a meeting attended by the UK’S Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Gove, the chair of the Scottish Parliament’ s rural economy, Edward Mountain MS P, said that the Scottish Government’ s lack of any plan showed a lack of vision for the future: “What it has is a system of task forces to stop it having to take decision son the future of Scottish Agriculture.”
Outlining the proposals, Mountain highlighted the necessity of a transition period but said that while food production should be supported in areas best suited to this, in some more marginal areas farm policy should see a focus on encouraging good environmental practices.
Gove highlighted that while other devolved administration s had taken powers in the UK Agriculture Bill Scotland had refused to do so, adding that the Scottish Government’s “stability and simplicity” document had simply defended a continuation of the st at usquo.
Also speaking at the meeting, NFU policy chief Jonnie Hall agreed that there were no clear pointer son policy from the Scottish Government, stating that while the English plans would “not for a minute” fit the Scottish situation, at least farmers in the south had a good idea what future policy would look like and be able to adapt accordingly.
He added that the union had drawn together its own set of policies in a series of “Change” documents in order to address the vacuum in policy which currently existed.