Calls for clarity as a thousand rural businesses yet to receive 2015 BPS payment
The Scottish farming sector has called for the Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing to provide farmers, crofters and the wider rural economy with 'absolute clarity' on CAP payments.
Based on Scottish Government’s official weekly update on payments, the NFU Scotland estimates that almost £40 million - or approximately nine percent – of funds due to be delivered as part of 2015 CAP schemes still remain outstanding.
In addition, NFUS believes there are more than 1,000 businesses yet to receive any BPS payment and hundreds of others still awaiting their balance payments.
Mr Ewing, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity is to update the Scottish Parliament on CAP Scheme payments on Tuesday 13 September.
Ahead of the statement, NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie said the 2015 payment "debacle" should finally have been concluded.
"Regrettably, the Scottish industry remains some considerable distance from this being delivered," Mr Bowie said.
"By our estimate, around nine percent of 2015 scheme monies remain outstanding; the rural economy is missing close to £40 million.
"Too many are still waiting for part or even all of their payment under different schemes.
"Given that it is more than a year since they applied for this vital support, that is unacceptable."
'Flawed IT system
"National pots of funding put in place by Scottish Government in the spring went some considerable way to filling the huge gap that the flawed IT delivery system had opened up in the rural economy," Mr Bowie said.
These national schemes delivered the majority of funds to the majority of claimants, but there are still a significant number of people waiting on the bulk of their support.
He added: "All claimants are desperate to see the troubled 2015 payment run concluded.
"We are looking for the Cabinet Secretary’s update to provide that clarity and also deliver a clear delivery timetable for 2016 payments so that farmers, crofters and the supply trade can plan ahead.
"We have absolutely no confidence that the flawed IT system, installed at a cost of £180 million, will deliver the bulk of 2016 basic payments and greening money to farmers in December, as happened under previous schemes.
"In order that the rural economy does not grind to a halt again, we need the Cabinet Secretary to give further consideration to repeating the national payment scheme.
"We need to be on the front foot and a national payment pot would allow Scottish Government to provide all claimants with a proportion of the money that they would receive were their claims to be properly processed and delivered on time.
"Once a clear timetable has been set, Scottish Government must be more open with the industry and let it know if it is on track.
"Too many farmers and crofters are fed up with excuses that IT problems are the reason for the delay," Mr Bowie concluded.
