THE UK Government has been urged to “get a move on” and pay £160 million Boris Johnson promised to Scotland ’s farming and crofting sectors.
The Prime Minister pledged to give EU convergence funding to Scotland but ministers in Edinburgh are concerned their Westminster counterparts are “dragging their heels on payment”.
Scottish Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has raised concerns the cash might not be handed over until April 2020.
The money should have been due to farmers and crofters in 2016, according to SNP ministers, but it was only confirmed it would be handed over in new Chancellor Sajid Javid’s first spending review earlier this month.
At the time, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack hailed the move as showing the UK Government was acting to “right the wrongs of unfair funding”.
Convergence funds were paid out to parts of the European Union where agriculture payments were lower than average. The issue was discussed as members of the Scottish Cabinet met in Edinburgh.
A Scottish Government spokesman said after the meeting: “Despite the promises that have been made, the UK Government appears to be dragging its heels on payment of this money, having indicated it might not be paid till next April.
“Given we’re anticipating a General Election fairly soon, it takes us into the space where this money wouldn’t have been paid until well after then.
“It also potentially puts another question mark on the payment of this money, which has been delayed for many years now, with the UK Government having finally agreement to pay it back to farmers and crofters.
“So the message from Fergus Ewing is that the UK Government should get a move on, pay the money they have agreed is owed to Scottish farmers and crofters and do it without delay.”
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