Current status: Answered by Michael Russell on 20 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4657 by Michael Russell on 24 October 2007, when it expects to reach a final conclusion on the action to be taken to address the implications for single farm payments of Scottish Natural Heritage management agreements and when farmers and crofters whose single farm payments have been affected by such agreements will be informed of the effect of the conclusion on their payments.
Following extensiveconsideration it is now clear that the terms of the Financial Guidelines formanagement agreements do not provide Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) with any basison which to make payments that compensate for loss of subsidies not linked to productionsuch as single farm payments. The concessionary payments sought by land managerswould not secure specific additional public benefit. On that basis, expenditureof public money for the purpose of making such concessionary payments could notbe justified. SNH will inform land managers who have raised concerns about thisissue with them as soon as possible. They will also be willing to advise on RuralDevelopment Contract options under the Scotland Rural Development Programme.