NFU Scotland seeks clarification on plans for £33m Authorities funding

Posted on Might 5, 2023

NFU Scotland has written to Scotland’s newly appointed Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary, Shona Robison MSP, in search of affirmation that £33 million deferred from the agricultural finances final 12 months will probably be returned.

Martin Kennedy, president of NFU Scotland, has written to Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary, Shona Robison MSP in regards to the situation.

Within the Scottish Authorities’s Emergency Price range Evaluation (EBR) in 2022 to assist folks and companies by means of the unprecedented price disaster, £33 million of funding awarded to Scotland as a part of the 2019 Bew Evaluation into the honest allocation of agricultural assist within the UK was deferred.

The then Deputy First Minister and Cupboard Secretary for Finance and Financial system, John Swinney MSP, publicly confirmed to Scottish Parliament in his EBR assertion that the deferred finances of £33 million could be returned to the sector in future years, making certain this cash is used to ship on Scotland’s rural priorities.

In response to a Parliamentary Query final month, Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary Shona Robison MSP confirmed that the cash will probably be used to put money into Scotland’s rural priorities.

NFU Scotland has requested to satisfy with the Deputy First Minister and her crew to debate the agricultural affairs finances and the way Scotland’s farmers and crofters proceed to make use of that public assist to ship on meals safety, decreasing emissions, nature restoration, supporting rural communities and rising the agricultural financial system.

“When meals safety and future manufacturing are such key points for the nation, that is inflicting nice concern for our sector.”

Commenting on the letter, NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy mentioned: “It’s a crucial and decisive time for Scotland’s farmers and crofters. Agricultural coverage in each Scotland and the remainder of the UK is presently present process important change. That debate is being undertaken towards the backdrop of a cost-of-living disaster, and there are clearly crucial points round funding going ahead.

“When meals safety and future manufacturing are such key points for the nation, that is inflicting nice concern for our sector. In our Intentions Survey performed in January, virtually two-thirds of farmers and crofters recognized uncertainty round future agricultural coverage and funding as essentially the most important risk to their companies.

“Funding from HM Treasury for the sector is just dedicated till the top of this UK parliament so readability from the Scottish Authorities on future assist, together with the return of the Bew funding, would offer welcome reassurance.”

“It could additionally considerably undermine Scotland’s aspirations to develop our iconic meals and drinks sector, as the main plank of inexperienced financial progress.”

Kennedy went onto say that with out Authorities funding, many farmers and crofters in Scotland would discover it not possible to generate adequate funds to reinvest and keep their competitiveness. This might have implications for shoppers, meals manufacturing and rural communities.

He continued: “It could additionally considerably undermine Scotland’s aspirations to develop our iconic meals and drinks sector, as the main plank of inexperienced financial progress, while sustainably tackling local weather change, nature restoration and rural depopulation.

“At NFU Scotland, we wish to safe the way forward for farming and crofting, not only for our members however the 1000’s of jobs and companies, situated inside rural communities throughout Scotland, that are supported by our sector. We’d welcome the chance to debate with the Deputy First Minister how we imagine Scottish Authorities can assist that ambition.”