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 price range final 12 months will likely be returned.

Within the Scottish Authorities’s Emergency Finances Overview (EBR) in 2022 to help folks and companies via the unprecedented price disaster, £33 million of funding awarded to Scotland as a part of the 2019 Bew Overview into the honest allocation of agricultural help 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 price range of £33 million could be returned to the sector in future years, guaranteeing 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 likely be used to put money into Scotland’s rural priorities.

NFU Scotland has requested to satisfy with the Deputy First Minister and her workforce to debate the agricultural affairs price range and the way Scotland’s farmers and crofters proceed to make use of that public help to ship on meals safety, lowering 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 stated: “It’s a vital and decisive time for Scotland’s farmers and crofters. Agricultural coverage in each Scotland and the remainder of the UK is at present present process vital change. That debate is being undertaken in opposition to the backdrop of a cost-of-living disaster, and there are clearly vital 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 carried out in January, nearly two-thirds of farmers and crofters recognized uncertainty round future agricultural coverage and funding as probably the most vital 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 help, together with the return of the Bew funding, would supply welcome reassurance.”

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

Kennedy went onto say that with out Authorities funding, many farmers and crofters in Scotland would discover it unimaginable to generate ample funds to reinvest and preserve their competitiveness. This is able to have implications for customers, meals manufacturing and rural communities.

He continued: “It will additionally considerably undermine Scotland’s aspirations to develop our iconic meals and drinks sector, as the key 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 hundreds of jobs and companies, positioned inside rural communities throughout Scotland, that are supported by our sector. We might welcome the chance to debate with the Deputy First Minister how we consider Scottish Authorities can help that ambition.” 

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