Douglas MacSkimming
PART-PAYMENTS of EU agricultural support went out to 900 more Scottish farmers over the last week, but there remain around 10,000 farmers and crofters in Scotland who have yet to receive a single penny of their basic support – and at that rate of delivery it will be May before some businesses receive anything.
With no sign of the hoped for acceleration in the Scottish Government's Basic Payment Scheme computer, NFU Scotland is increasingly furious over that system's 'calamitous' failure to deliver sorely-needed support to farmers and crofters.
According to the union, less than a quarter of the £393 million pot of EU money for basic support and greening has so far been delivered to grass roots farmers, who usually receive these payments in December, leaving almost £300 million missing out of Scotland's rural economy and placing the whole sector under 'intolerable' strain.
NFUS president Allan Bowie said: “A few short weeks ago, at our agm in St Andrews, cabinet secretary Richard Lochhead apologised for the delays and promised progress. In the intervening period, the rate of clearance for claims has failed to pick up and the delivery of support to ease the growing cash flow crisis in the rural sector remains far too slow.
“We fully appreciate that Scottish Government office staff are currently working flat out, but the industry deserves a clear statement on why the number of applications being cleared each week is disappointing, and what further measures Scottish Government are taking to address this.
“We are now 20 months on from Richard Lochhead’s initial statement on CAP implementation in Scotland and have seen £178 million of tax-payers' money invested in a computer delivery system.
“It is only right and proper that a clear timetable is given on when farmers and crofters can expect support payments and when schemes vital to our hill and livestock sector – LFASS, beef calf payments and ewe hogg payments – can be expected," said Mr Bowie.
“When you add the value of all schemes together, the gaping hole in the Scottish rural economy that would normally be filled by June approaches almost £400 million, with no clear steer on when all support streams will arrive.
“We recently urged Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs committee to push our cabinet secretary and his key staff for an accurate timetable on all support schemes to allow essential business planning to take place. They declined that request but given that the rate of payment of basic support remains ponderous – and March delivery of vital LFASS payments to Scotland’s vulnerable hill farmers is in jeopardy - we urge them to revisit that decision.”
Responding to this latest NFUS attack, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "A Scottish Government-backed loan scheme eased at easing cash flow issues in Scottish agriculture opened for applications on Monday of this week.
“The government is making £20million available to help farmers and crofters facing hardship whilst waiting for CAP payments.
“The government continues to process CAP claims seven days a week and is doing everything in its power to get first instalments out to as many people as it can by the end of March and the balance of payments as soon as possible after that.”
For in-depth news and views on Scottish agriculture, see this Friday’s issue of The Scottish Farmer or visit www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk
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