Rural Payments and Services

Response to meeting the devolved administrations and UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Speaking after today’s meeting of the devolved administrations and UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

''It is vital that Scotland’s voice is heard and that our rural interests are protected in the Brexit negotiations.

''Uncertainty over long-term funding for the rural economy threatens to have a devastating impact on our farming, food and marine sectors, and it is totally unacceptable that the UK Government has still to give the required assurances.

''As such, I intend to write to Mr Gove to seek clear and comprehensive assurances on the commitments he gave today over guarantees on all EU rural funding – which includes forestry, fishing, farming and environment – until the end of the UK parliamentary term in 2022. If this is the case, this is a welcome development, but one, as we have been pressing for over a year, that should have been made much earlier.

‘’Mr Gove also committed to further discussions regarding the return of around £160 million of convergence money. Scottish farmers will not welcome more delaying tactics from the UK Government as this money is long overdue and should have been returned to Scotland a long time ago, and I will continue to work for that outcome.’’