SNP claim victory on 'historic injustice' for farmers
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EU FUNDING is being returned to Scottish farmers after six years of UK Government delay.
Moray farmers will benefit from the first instalment of convergence funding – addressing what the SNP Government say is an "historic injustice".
The funding is the first tranche of a £160 million package the UK Government has returned to Scottish farmers after "pocketing" EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding intended for Scotland since 2014.
The initial £80 million will be distributed to support active farming, with a focus on those who farm in marginal uplands, hill farms and island areas.
Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead has pursued the issue since 2013 when funds that were awarded from the EU to the UK to increase Scotland’s per-hectare subsidy were distributed across the UK.
Mr Lochhead said: "This is money that was hard fought for over many years, and I am delighted for farmers in Moray and Speyside that the £160 million of convergence money that the UK Government tried to appropriate from Scotland has been returned.
"These funds were allocated to the UK through the EU’s CAP scheme due to the low level of payments in Scotland, but the Conservative Government’s refusal to pass it onto Moray and Scotland’s farmers over the last six years has been the source of seething anger in the sector.
"Scottish farmers have been short-changed by the UK Government for years, and the SNP has argued long and hard for that injustice to be addressed.
"This funding will play a vital role in helping us meet our agricultural commitments and will make a crucial difference to the future viability of Scotland’s farming industry.
"However, Brexit is by far the biggest threat to Scotland’s farming and crofting communities, but this funding will help to provide some security to local farmers during these uncertain times.
"With future arrangements for agriculture still unclear amidst the turmoil around Brexit it is absolutely vital that Moray’s farmers benefit from the EU support to which they’re entitled – while they still can.
"We now need real commitments over future funding, and an end to the attempted power grab over farming powers that should rightfully be at the Scottish Parliament."
