Please see below Jamie McGrigor's speech in today's Parliamentary debate on the future of agricultural support
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Jamie McGrigor
Thursday 25th February 2010. 2.55pm- 5pm. 6 minutes
Scottish Government Debate: Brian Pack Inquiry – Single Farm Payment
Presiding Officer,
I refer members to my agricultural interests in the Register of Interests.
As a Highlands & Islands MSP I am very pleased to be able to speak in today’s very important debate and to voice the hopes and concerns of my farming and crofting constituents. Achieving the most appropriate future agricultural support system from 2013/14 is of massive importance to the farmers and crofters of my region and not only to them but to all the communities that depend on them being economically viable, including the people and businesses in some of the most remote and fragile rural and island communities in Europe. The enormous importance of agricultural subsidy is three fold: first for the industry itself, all those it employs and the subsidiary industries that go with it; second for the social angle where it plays an important role in supporting remote rural communities; and third for the distribution of public good regarding the environment and our scenic nature and wildlife heritage.
Like other members, I also want to put on record my thanks to Brian Pack and his team for generating much debate within the farming community- this is long overdue. What is also overdue is a review of the cross compliance rules for farmers and crofters which according to a draft report I have seen from the European Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development drafted by Richard Ashworth MEP believes that the basic aim of cross compliance inspections is to give advice to farmers and put them on the right track in order to better suit legislation requirements and calls in this respect on only continuous and repeated infringements, that show reluctance to adhere to legislation requirements to be fined. It calls for simplification for the rules and a telephone helpline for farmers in each member state. Presiding Officer, I say this because farmers have become fearful of breaking rules which they do not fully understand and the gap between the farming community and the SEERAD inspectors has unfortunately widened. These barriers impede progress. When I was a young farmer the Department culture was to advise rather than restrict. Let us hope that a simplification and clarification of the CAP will bring with it a simplification and clarification of cross compliance rules which will instil a better relationship between SEERAD officials and working farmers. This is very important.
The Scottish Conservatives are pleased that Brian Pack’s report has generated debate. Future support for our crofting and farming sector through a direct payment is vital, both in terms of food security at a time when global food demand is projected to surge- a subject my friend John Scott has worked so effectively to highlight in recent years- and encouraging a vibrant, working countryside with all the environmental benefits that go with this. And this support is especially important in the peripheral areas of our country where distances from market and transport costs, land quality and the small scale nature of many enterprises means conditions are even more challenging, not least when markets are volatile and regulations are ever increasing. The single farm payment is simply the bedrock upon which so many of the farms and crofts in my region base their continued survival and this must not be forgotten.
Most farmers and those with an interest in the farming sector recognise that the current historical based single farm payment is unsustainable- whether we like that fact or not. Any move towards an area based single farm payment as is suggested by Brian Pack needs to achieve what will be an incredibly challenging balance between supporting new entrants, reversing the decline in stock numbers on our hills and not penalising unduly producers in the most densely stocked parts of the country. No easy task. And for that reason it is necessary we have as long as possible a transition period so that the future plans can be properly laid and properly thought out and we move to a clear and simple CAP solution, understood by farmers and appreciated by the general public. The status quo may not be perfect but it suffices.
As the SRPBA have stated a “blanket flat rate payment per hectare across Scotland would not be any fairer than the current historic system”. And so Brian Pack’s suggestion of an activity requirement to require producers on pasture land to maintain stocking density seems to be a solution that merits support although details will take much negotiation and it will be hard to achieve consensus. Much work will also have to be done on the top up fund which it is suggested will replace current special provisions through Article 68- with support connected to specific outcomes- and which I am aware has the support of the NFUS as they believe it makes the case effectively and clearly to the taxpayer for ongoing support. I agree with Brian Pack that any measures should enhance competitiveness and sustainability. I also agree with the NFUS who say that any system needs to be kept simple with a small number of options which might well favour the livestock rather than the arable sector.
In terms of LFASS I am pleased the report recognises the strong support for and importance of the LFA to Scotland where so much of the land means we face increased costs and reduced income. Again LFASS is of crucial importance to my region and the EU rightly remains keen to prevent land abandonment through the mechanism of LFASS although it is likely to become more strictly defined and auditable.
Before ending may I remind the Minister of the extraordinary and unfair anomaly that old established deer farmers do not receive a Single Farm Payment whereas other farmers changing their livestock to deer can do so! 2013 would seem an opportunity to redress this problem although it should be done earlier.
Presiding Officer, I would strongly encourage any farmer or crofter or anyone with an interest in the sector to make their views known on this interim report before the close of consultation at the end of next week. The report is a good starting point but much needs to be done to get the future support system right for our farmers and crofters.
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