Question reference: S6W-10256
- Asked by: Donald Cameron, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 August 2022 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 19 August 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the UK Government on 19 July 2022 that it will issue around 50% of overall Basic Payment Scheme payments to farmers from July 2022, with the remaining 50% expected in December 2022, whether it will bring forward the initial payment date to August 2022, and if this is not the case, what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer
The Scottish Government has already been taking action to improve business cash flow and annual farm payment dates are to be brought forward to September. Subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament, farmers and crofters will receive their advance payment for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening around a month earlier than originally planned, and we remain committed to delivering over 70% of payments by the end of December and over 95.24% of payments by the end of February 2023.