NFU Scotland has taken its battle for clarity on farm subsidy payment time-scales to Holyrood.
The union has written to the Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs, climate change and environment (Racce) committee asking it to hold an extraordinary session on the issue.
President Allan Bowie has urged MSPs to quiz government on farm payments and push for answers on when payments are likely to be made.
“Whilst the Cabinet Secretary has sought to allay fears that the payment schedule will slip, Scottish Government’s message has shifted from payments being delivered in ‘early December’ to ‘late December’, and we are now convinced that these payments will not be made until 2016,” said Mr Bowie.
“We also note with interest that the Rural Payments Agency gave an unambiguous statement to the NFU council meeting that it will commence paying the new Basic Payment Scheme in full to farmers in England in December, with the majority receiving payment by the end of that month and the vast majority of payments completed by the end of January.
“Scottish farmers and crofters – and all those who provide goods and services to our sectors – would benefit hugely from a similar clear statement on payment timetables for Scotland to allow them to plan their businesses accordingly.”