The SNP has apologised to Scotland’s rural communities as the government faces the prospect of a £125million fine for failing to deliver vital CAP payments.
Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing said his administration was “sorry” for the debacle, which has starved farmers and crofters of hundreds of millions of pounds.
Despite the apology, the Rural Economy Secretary refused to confirm whether CAP payments will be completed by the EU’s June 30 deadline.
And the Inverness and Nairn MSP refused to answer Conservative demands for him to guarantee taxpayers will not “have to foot the bill”.
If the Scottish Government fails to meet the summer deadline, they could face a fine of up to £125million from Brussels.
North East Tory MSP and Rural Affairs spokesman Peter Chapman branded Mr Ewing’s statement “unacceptable” – and claimed the rural communities no longer trusted the SNP as a result of the CAP issue.
Mr Ewing told parliament: “As someone who has represented a constituency with vital farming and crofting interests for 17 years, I am very well aware of (the anger, frustration, hardship and cost to rural communities).
“I want to start off with three simple words addressed by me on behalf of the Scottish Government to all farmers and crofters who have suffered as a result – we are sorry.”
But Mr Chapman said: “This does nothing to make up for the months of chaos and heartbreak in our rural economy that his department has caused.
“Time and time again, over the past six months, government ministers have had to come to this chamber and explain they need more time to get payments out. That, simply, is unacceptable.
“It has also completely eroded farmers’ trust in this government.”
When asked by North East Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles if he was confident payments would be made on time, Mr Ewing would only say he was “absolutely confident everything possible is being done to meet the 30 June deadline”.
Mr Ewing added: “From day one in the job, and for the foreseeable future, the resolution of the CAP payment issues is my top priority as Cabinet Secretary.”
