Farmers demand probe into delay of European Union funding
Farmers leaders in Scotland are demanding an inquiry into why vital European cash payments were delayed.
Farmers leaders in Scotland are demanding an inquiry into why vital European cash payments were delayed.
NFU Scotland said the announcement of up to £200 million in cash advances from Scottish Government funding would ease the log jam'' facing farmers who are still waiting for payments from the European Union.
These have been held up because of problems with the £178 million IT system set up to administer payments made under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Allan Bowie, president of NFU Scotland, said that while the cash from the Scottish Government would help farmers who are struggling for cash, there are still fundamental issues'' with the IT system.
The Conservatives have already called for a full and independent inquiry into the delays, with leader Ruth Davidson branding ministers' handling of the situation shambolic''.
Mr Bowie spoke of farmers' frustration with the IT system'', adding:It's not working fast enough.''
He said the Government had quite rightly taken the concerns of the industry on board here and found a means of getting the £200 million into the industry''.
He said: There's still fundamental issues within the industry that need to be resolved.
Make no mistake, finding the £200 million - and it will be replaced by the European monies - finding that does actually help a lot of businesses out there.
Other countries have dealt with this as well, England and Wales had to deal with this five years ago, so I think we need to have an inquiry here.
That's what NFU Scotland have been asking for to see what lessons can be learned. That's the important bit, because this system has to be capable of working for the next five years.
We really need to have people brought to account here and try and argue as to why this came about.''
The cash advance from the Scottish Government was announced after NFU Scotland held talks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead on Tuesday.
MSPs at Holyrood will debate the issue later after the Tories tabled a motion claiming farmers had lost trust'' in Mr Lochhead's ability to deliver the funding before the end of the financial year.