Question reference: S6W-01717
- Asked by: Stephen Kerr, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 21 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 4 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on supporting the agriculture sector since 1 January 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government published the Rural Payment Strategy Timetable for 2020 scheme year payments in November 2020 with payments to farmers and crofters starting in December 2020, the earliest point since 2015.
All elements of the 2020 payment strategy were successfully delivered by 11 June 2021, two weeks ahead of schedule. By the regulatory deadline of 30 June 2021, over 99% value across all schemes had been paid with a value of over £530 million delivered to the rural economy.
The second payment of convergence funds and the Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grant Scheme provided a further £76 million.
In respect of the 2021 Payment Strategy, the strategy, announced on 12 February 2021, sets out our intention to match our 2020 payment performance.
In total over £660 million in ongoing agricultural support was approved as part of the 2021-22 Scottish Government budget.