MSP raises agricultural wages at Rural affairs meeting

MSP for Angus South, Graeme Dey, this week raised both the bureaucratic problems surrounding the SRDP rural payments system and concerns over the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) with Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead at a meeting of the Rural Affairs Committee. Mr Lochhead had similar concerns on both matters and confirmed a commitment to reviewing the SAWB in this parliamentary session.

Afterwards, Mr Dey commented ’

’I wanted to highlight the difficulties surrounding the SRDP payments system with the Cabinet Secretary as it is an issue which has been raised with me by constituents. I was heartened to hear his response.

’Mr Lochhead shared my concerns that the system still needs much work done to it to bring it up to scratch, but of course the European Commission has much to answer for in that regard. As good as scheme though SRDP is, there remains a clunkingly slow regime of rules and regulations which need to be fought through in order for payment recipients to actually get funds.

’The SAWB has also been the focus of much attention in recent weeks and the soft fruit sector in Angus South I know have concerns over wage disparities between England and Scotland. Ensuring that Scottish soft fruit producers are not put at a disadvantage is a priority but equally important is protecting the income of workers. A balance must be struck and I look forward to the review, which Mr Lochhead restated his committment to, in order that all stakeholders are given the opportunity to make their voices heard.’