Delayed farming payments released

Hill farmers and crofters across Scotland are to receive £61m in crucial European agricultural payments which have been delayed for more than a year.

Following a European Union vote, the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) funds could be paid within two weeks, the Scottish Government said.

The payments could ease the financial burden in the wake of last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak in England.

The LFASS supports farming and crofting businesses in upland and remote areas.

The payments are designed to compensate for difficulties they face due to physical conditions and distances to suppliers and markets.

They had been delayed for more than a year while the EU considered its Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

But the Scottish Government will now be able to make payments to 'at risk' businesses following a recommendation in Brussels that the SRDP should receive formal approval from the European Commission in the next three weeks.

The news allows the government to honour their commitment to make LFASS payments ahead of full agreement of the rural development programme.

The announcement was made by Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead to the rural affairs and environment committee.