Rural Development Committee, 20 Mar 2001

Meeting date: Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Official Report 172KB pdf

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Subordinate Legislation

The committee has to consider a negative instrument, the Highlands and Islands Agricultural Processing and Marketing Grants etc (Scotland) Regulations 2001 (SSI 2001/40). The regulations establish the Highlands and Islands agricultural processing and marketing grants scheme.

Members will recall that there was a problem with the agricultural business development scheme, the error being in the wording of the regulations, which appeared to exclude several thousand farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands—those who had previously applied under the agricultural business improvement scheme—from accessing the ABDS. I understand that the error that was identified, which was the subject of some discussion in the committee, has been dealt with by regulation 14 of the regulations that we are considering today. It is correct to draw that specifically to the attention of members.

The instrument was laid on 16 February. The Rural Development Committee is the lead committee, and we are required to report on the instrument by 26 March. Are members content with the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.