Union gives Scottish officials 15 October deadline to pay out 2015 CAP payments

Union calls on Scottish government to meet payments deadline
Union calls on Scottish government to meet payments deadline

Scottish officials are being given a deadline to deliver commitments made to the Audit Committee on 2015 CAP payments.

NFU Scotland is looking for the Scottish government to draw a line under the 2015 CAP payments 'debacle' by ensuring all eligible farmers and crofters receive what they are due by the 15 October.

In giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Audit committee last week on the CAP Futures programme, government officials indicated that payments to those involved in private contract clauses or had been subject to inspection or were cross-border claims were imminent.

The union estimates that more than £20 million remains outstanding from these schemes
The union estimates that more than £20 million remains outstanding from these schemes

During evidence an official said: "We should start paying the inspection cases, which are affected by the private contract clauses, next week.

"We would expect to start paying the cross-border cases from the end of next week or the beginning of the week after.

"That puts us in a good place to complete the vast majority of those cases—with the financial value that remains outstanding—by 15 October."

209 applications yet to receive 2015 payments

It is estimated that 209 applicants have still to receive a final 2015 instalment and 401 have still to receive a CAP payment.

Payments made under Scotland’s livestock headage schemes and as part of Scotland’s Rural Development Programme (Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme and Agri-Environment) are not subject to the commitment given to deliver payments by the 15 October deadline.

The union estimates that more than £20 million remains outstanding from these schemes.

NFU Scotland’s Chief Executive Scott Walker said: "The strain on those businesses who have only received some and in some cases none of the CAP funds that they were due for 2015 has been enormous.

"Last week’s session of the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit committee critically examined officials over when every last 2015 payment will be delivered and the middle of October is the date by when it will be paid.

"We have to get a line drawn under this sorry debacle. All outstanding claimants need to be paid by that date.

"Should this not be met, then the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit committee must not hesitate in pulling the same officials in front of it again.

"Farmers and crofters need to know that those responsible are rightly held to account," concluded Mr Walker.