Representatives of NFU Scotland have challenged the UK’s Farming Minister directly on Scotland’s ‘lost’ convergence uplift.
During a meeting, the union was given the first face-to-face opportunity to tackle George Eustice since his appointment to the post last autumn.
Mr Eustice, has been the Tory MP forCamborne, Redruth and Hayle since May 2010 and is a former member of the Environment and Rural Affairs Select Committee.
NFUS president Nigel Miller and chief executive Scott Walker said they brought CAP reform implementation, convergence funding and coupling to the forefront of the agenda.
They told the minister NFUS members across Scotland were “justifiably appalled” at Defra Secretary Owen Paterson’s decision not to use new European money to lift Scotland’s poor support levels.
Following legal advice, the union used a freedom of information request to reveal the exact details of how Defra had arrived at that budgetary decision.
A response to that request has been received, they said, and it is being studied to establish whether there is a viable legal route with which to mount a challenge on the decision.
A review of budgetary allocations has been promised by Defra, they added, and NFUS is keen to firm up on timetables and terms of reference for that review, scheduled to start in 2016.
“The budgetary allocation announcement angered many Scottish farmers,” said Mr Miller following his meeting with the Cornwall Tory MP and former Ukip candidate.
“With the promised review, the UK Government has accepted the situation can change, but we need to firm up on the timetable and establish the review parameters,” he said.
“We believe a solid roadmap on convergence must be established, the review completed with urgency and a clear timetable set for bringing parity in budgets between all the regions of the UK.
“We remain convinced that a convergence process is fundamental to a truly common policy and the delivery of fair area support.
“Without it, Scottish farms will always be at a competitive disadvantage.”
Mr Miller said that he and Mr Walker also wanted to impress on the minister the importance that coupling payments might have in mitigating the impact of CAP reform and significantly reduced support budgets in Scotland.
“The UK has the ability to open the door for coupled area top-up support to be used in Scotland’s huge rough grazing area,” he explained.
“Such an approach, targeting support to active producers, may solve Scotland’s rough grazing trap which could, if unchecked, de-stock some of the most productive hills and vulnerable uplands.
“But with time closing in on the reform process, decisions need to be made now.”
In Scotland, he stressed to the Farming Minister, both convergence and coupling have the potential to solve real problems in delivering CAP reform in the hills.
According to the president, it will also benefit every Scottish producer as, by using Scotland’s limited budget more efficiently, it will help determine the area payment levels all over the country.
“The UK role in Scotland’s CAP reform implementation is limited but it controls the foundation of support the budget.
“And, through coupling, it controls a vital lever that allows support to be targeted at production.”
Mr Miller said that the meeting was “a very welcome opportunity” to discuss these pertinent and contentious issues with the minister and his staff.
Mr Eustice replaced outgoing farm minister, Somerset Lib Dem MP David Heath, who was ousted during the last Cabinet reshuffle in October.
He was David Cameron’s press secretary from June 2005 until the end of 2007, having previously stood, unsuccessfully, as a candidate for the UK Independence Party in the south-west of England during the 1999 European elections.
farming@thecourier.co.uk