Alex Fergusson MSP for Galloway & West Dumfries and Scottish Conservative Rural Affairs spokesman, will call on the Scottish Government to forget the shambolic IT system for CAP support payments and ensure that all eligible farmers receive their first instalments in a Conservative sponsored debate in Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Fergusson said:
“This shambles has gone on long enough and it is a shambles that is 100% of the Scottish Government’s making. Last week, Richard Lochhead announced that he would ensure that the much needed Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payment of £67 million would be paid promptly without having to be processed through the IT system”.
“So far the Scottish Government has managed to make an initial instalment towards the Basic Payment entitlement to 54% of applicants, although 75% of the actual money has yet to be paid out. Scottish Conservatives are calling on Richard Lochhead to take similar action to that taken with LFASS to ensure that his previous assurances that all farmers would receive 70% of their Basic Payments by the end of March will be adhered to”.
“If he can do it with LFASS, he can do it for the Basic Payment Scheme as well. Nothing less is acceptable if the Scottish Government is to retain any credibility at all within rural Scotland”.
