Question reference: S5W-02013
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 18 August 2016
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 September 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to (a) farmers, (b) crofters and (c) other businesses affected by delays in making common agricultural policy payments.
Answer
Government officials held extensive discussions with industry and the banking sector, to design a support scheme to help ease cash flow for those farmers and crofters who had not received a first instalment payment.
The Scottish Government backed loan scheme opened for applications on 22 February 2016, and under the scheme those farmers and crofters who could not access support from their bank will be able to apply to the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government also earmarked up to £200 million of national funds to be used to fund the National Basic Payment Scheme so that anyone who had not received an instalment by the end of March 2016 could receive a nationally-funded payment of up to 80 per cent of their CAP claim.