A fresh call has been made for a Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish Government’s bungled distribution of EU subsidies to farmers.
Hundreds of Scots farmers are still waiting for their full CAP payment, with the slow roll-out causing a major knock-on effect to rural communities.
Opposition MSPs rounded on the SNP administration yesterday over the ongoing debacle – and called on Nicola Sturgeon to “hold her hands up (and) apologise” for the “shocking situation”.
More than £170million has been spent on the IT system designed to try and deliver the payments, but it has been afflicted by “multiple failures”.
The Scottish Government insisted they were working “flat out” to get the payments made.
The comments came as MSPs continued to debate the SNP’s plan for government, which Nicola Sturgeon introduced on Tuesday.
Peter Chapman, a Tory North East MSP, said: “We still have a shocking situation with regard to CAP payments.
“Over 1,000 farmers are still waiting for their full payment.
“Several of my constituents have contacted me complaining bitterly that they only received their initial payment two weeks ago.
“Up intil then: no loan, no payment, not a penny.
“We know how this happened – money was poured into an IT system that didn’t work, still isn’t working properly and the government won’t tell us when it will be fully functional.
“Hard-working officials in area offices up and down Scotland are being let down by this Government’s inability to deliver the required IT system.
“This further goes to show the need for a parliamentary inquiry into this debacle.”
Speaking after the debate, the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ North East MSP Mike Rumbles added: “I hope that in the coming weeks the First Minister will hold her hands up, apologise to our farmers and their families, and give a cast iron guarantee this bungle will not happen again.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said a total of £357million had been paid to date.
She added: “There remains a relatively small number of CAP claims which are taking longer to progress because they are complicated and eligibility is still being confirmed.
“The Cabinet Secretary will provide a further update to the Scottish Parliament next week.”
