Why the CAP must fit

Scotland’s farmers and crofters must get a CAP reform deal which meets the country’s distinct and diverse needs.

That was the clear message from Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead as he headed to Brussels for the latest round of CAP reform talks where a number of important decisions are expected to be made.

By the end of the Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday, after two days of talks, the intention is that the position will have been finalised sufficiently to give the Irish Presidency a mandate to negotiate the final deal with the European Parliament, following last week’s votes in the parliament.

But Mr Lochhead called on the UK Government to ensure their negotiating stance reflected the needs of all parts of the UK. He said it was vital that the final solution must reflect the position in Scotland – particularly on issues like coupled payments and crofting which do not affect the rest of the UK.

Mr Lochhead said:

“Throughout the CAP reform negotiations I have consistently called for a policy which is fair, flexible and meets the diverse needs of Scotland’s farmers and crofters. As the talks come to a head this week, I’ll be in Brussels fighting Scotland’s corner and working hard to influence the final deal.

“In Scotland we need a CAP that protects our precious food production, provides a level playing field for new entrants and – above all – is workable and capable of being implemented.

“Coupled payments, for instance, are an important way to meet the needs of our livestock sector and our remote communities, and it’s crucial for the industry’s continued success that we are able to continue to use these. I’m calling on European ministers to follow the lead of the European Parliament by allowing coupled payments of up to 15 per cent.

“With an eye to the negotiations more generally, I’m calling on the UK Government to adopt a positive approach. In recent days, stakeholders have been voicing their concerns over the UK Government’s unwillingness to listen to other views or push Scottish priorities. This must change.

“Rather than arguing dogmatically against aspects of the CAP just because they don’t fit their view of the world, I’d like to see them using their negotiating chips to argue for some of the items which are priorities for the devolved administrations but perhaps not for the UK as a whole. In our case, this would certainly include coupled payments.

“These are important times for Scotland’s farmers. The deals done in Brussels next week will  have ramifications for years to come. It’s vital that we get it right – for the sake of all our farmers and the future of the industry.”

Coupled payments are linked to the production of a particular crop or keeping a particular type of livestock – for example the Scottish Beef Scheme. There has been a general move away from coupled payments since decoupling was introduced by the 2003 CAP reform.

In his Independent Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture in Scotland, Brian Pack, recommended that Scotland should be able to use up to 15 per cent of its direct payments ceiling for coupled payments.