Question reference: S4W-29624
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 2 February 2016 Registered interest
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Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 March 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the delay in paying basic payments to farmers and crofters will not impact on the timescale for the payment of less favoured area support payments.
Answer
The less favoured area support scheme (LFASS) shares an application process with the new basic payment scheme, and for both schemes it is necessary to verify the area of land in each farmer’s claim.
LFASS payments are always made in arrears, so the payments due in 2016 are in respect of the 2015 scheme. There is no fixed payment window for LFASS payments in the EU regulations.
The Scottish Government indicated to the farming industry some time ago that because of the link between the schemes, and the challenges of implementing an unprecedently complex Common Agricultural Policy reform in its first year, LFASS payments in 2016 could be subject to some delay compared with previous years. The government is aiming to minimise this and we will update stakeholders when we meet later this week.