Scottish Conservative Rural Affairs spokesman Alex Fergusson MSP has criticised the Scottish Rural Affairs Minister’s announcement that some farmers will receive 70% of their farm support payment in December as a panic measure, designed to stave off the increasing criticism of his handling of the CAP reform agenda’.
Speaking after the announcement was made, the Galloway and West Dumfries MSP said:-
“The Cabinet Secretary was given the responsibility of designing a CAP regime specifically designed for Scottish needs by the UK Government. Yet, despite commissioning a purpose built computer system that has cost £100 million more than its original estimate of £70 million and now totals £10,000 per payment application, he has failed to deliver.
“His announcement that some 25% of farmers will receive 70% of their payment in December with the rest having to wait until January, February or March simply verifies that there have been enormous problems with the verification part of the claims process – something that I warned him about months ago – yet it is individual farmers who will pay the price for his ineptitude.
“In a debate in Parliament on 23rd September, I said that ‘Basic Payments being made to all primary producers from day 1 of the December window’ would be a measure of his grip on the support system he designed. By any measure, he would appear to have lost that grip – and hiding behind the excuse that split payments were made the last time CAP payments were reviewed is just not good enough.
“The farming sector is experiencing very difficult economic times as we all know, but many farmers will now be at the mercy of their banks to see them through the weeks and months until their Basic Payments drop through the letter box. Extra borrowing will be required and will not come cheap, and all that is down to the incompetent stewardship of the Scottish Government. The changes already have serious impacts on most farmers in the South of Scotland – this announcement is just rubbing salt in the wounds.”
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