Farmers warn Scotland's Brexit needs differ from the rest of UK
With three months to go until Brexit is triggered, NFU Scotland has used a Westminster meeting to reaffirm its priorities as the UK looks to negotiate an exit from the European Union.
A team from NFU Scotland, which included President Allan Bowie, met yesterday (12 December) with David Jones MP, Minister of State at the recently created Department for Exiting the European Union.
At the meeting in London, the Union laid out what it believes needs to be done to secure productive agriculture in Scotland.
Speaking from London, Mr Bowie said: “The UK Government is already in the process of establishing its priorities and it is vitally important that we engage with them now and make sure they are clear on what Scottish farmers and crofters want.
“There is strong recognition that Scottish agriculture’s needs from Brexit negotiations will differ from the rest of the UK and that this must be a factor under any future arrangements. There are already marked differences between different parts of the UK. In Scotland, for example, we have opted to use part of our existing support package to target key sectors like beef and hill sheep and the ability of Scotland to make such decisions will clearly need to be maintained.
“While assurances have been given about support levels during the Brexit negotiating period, we pressed the case for funding levels to be maintained once we are outside of the EU and that they go hand-in-hand with an agricultural policy, focussed on active production, that fits with Scottish agriculture’s needs.
Mr Bowie added: “That requires a future UK agricultural policy that is truly representative of all parts of the UK and recognises the differences and the drivers of the industry in Scotland. We must make the most of the opportunities for our farming, food and drink sectors that Brexit presents. We can support jobs and grow income but only if we prioritise the needs of farming."
Holyrood could gain powers over Scottish fishing and farming once the UK leaves the EU, Scotland's only Conservative MEP Ian Duncan has said.
The SNP administration is expected to call for more control in the week before Christmas and has already written to Scottish secretary David Mundell to urge a meeting to clarify what powers might be devolved further.
Mr Duncan MEP said: "I would argue those powers would be given to Scotland but I would hope there would be UK-wide standards. There are opportunities to streamline some of the rules and reduce some of the compliance costs.
"I think it will come to the Scottish Parliament and I think they need to be ready and realise the challenge."
The importance of a trade deal with Europe, future trading arrangements with the rest of the world and access to non-UK labour are all issues which have been discussed in with UK farming unions in discussions with politicians since the EU Referendum result.
