Scottish rural development programme 'crucial to farming'

Scotland’s new rural development programme has been formally approved by Europe.

The programme will provide £1.3 billion of support for Scottish farming, food production, rural communities and the environment between now and the end of the decade.

The Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) 2014-2020 is co-funded by the Scottish Government and European Union and, as such, requires formal sign-off by the European Commission.

Confirming that agreement has now been given, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment Richard Lochhead said: “The SRDP is crucial for Scottish farming, food production, rural communities and the environment, and I am pleased that it has finally been approved.

“This will enable to the Scottish Government to begin approving applications and making payments on those schemes we have already opened to mitigate, as far as possible, the impact of delays in the European sign-off process.

“It again highlights the need for ambitious and urgent reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) from within Europe, and I continue to urge the UK Government to work with the European Commission to swiftly deliver a simpler, more streamlined CAP.”