Chamber and committees

The number of eligible Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) applicants each year from 2021 and how many of these were new entrant farmers is detailed in the following table.

In the following table, details are provided of the exact amount of funding that has been allocated to the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme each year since 2021.

The application window for the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) scheme year 2025 does not open until 1 September 2025.

In the following table, details are provided of the number of businesses that had a successful or unsuccessful application under the SUSSS in 2024, broken down by local authority area. Applications included as unsuccessful are those applications which were rejected as they did not meet the scheme eligibility criteria.

The application window for the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) in scheme year 2025 does not open until 1 September 2025.

Payments under the SUSSS for scheme year 2024 commenced in May 2025, as set out in the 2024 Payments Strategy timetable.

As per the payment strategy timetable, there are no delayed payments and as at 9 June 2025, 98% of eligible applicants have been paid with 17 applicants still to receive a 2024 SUSSS payment. There are various reasons why a payment has not yet issued, for example, information has still to be provided by the applicant or application processing has still to complete. All remaining payments will be processed and paid as soon as is possible.

The Scottish Government understands the importance of multi-year budgets to the agriculture sector and consistently makes the case to the UK Government that a single year budget settlement does not give the stability and certainty that we need. If the UK Government Spending Review provides multi-year funding, SG would expect to be able to provide that certainty in turn to the agriculture and marine sectors.

The Scottish Government does not set targets for the number of breeding cattle or sheep in Scotland. Livestock numbers are primarily driven by market conditions and individual business decisions.

However, we are committed to supporting a resilient and sustainable livestock sector. This includes continued investment in schemes such as the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme, which provides £40 million annually to support beef producers and encourage improvements in herd efficiency, and the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme to provide support to breeding hill flocks.

We also provide broader direct support to sheep and cattle producers through the Basic Payment Scheme and Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme payments – in stark contrast to the UK Government approach.

Through our Vision for Agriculture and ongoing reform programme, we will continue to work with farmers and crofters to ensure future support enables productive, sustainable farming.

We remain concerned that recent UK trade deals, agreed without meaningful consultation with the Scottish Government, risk undermining domestic livestock production by allowing imports produced to lower environmental and welfare standards—potentially increasing global emissions and undercutting Scotland’s high-quality producers.

There is no update at the moment on progress. The Scottish Government will be writing to the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland very soon with details of what should be covered in the Order. Officials will keep people interested in the Order updated.

The Scottish Government has secured £4.85m in funding from Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan in 2025-26. The Scottish Government will primarily deliver this funding directly through our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), providing support through the ‘Community Energy Generation Growth Fund’ to boost community owned renewable energy across Scotland. The £8 million fund, including £4 million from GB Energy’s Local Power Plan, will support community groups to develop their own renewable energy projects, including wind and solar PV projects.

Last year’s £1.5 million pilot fund supported 23 community energy projects – including solar PV installations on public buildings – at various stages of project development.

The Scottish Government has secured £4.85m in funding from Great British Energy’s (GBE) Local Power Plan in 2025-26. The Scottish Government will primarily deliver this funding directly through our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), providing support through the ‘Community Energy Generation Growth Fund’ to boost community owned renewable energy across Scotland. The £8 million fund, including £4 million from GB Energy’s Local Power Plan, will support community groups to develop their own renewable energy projects, including wind and solar PV projects.

Last year’s £1.5 million pilot fund supported 23 community energy projects – including solar PV installations on public buildings – at various stages of project development.

This is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The information requested is not held centrally.