NFU Scotland has used its regular meeting with DEFRA Farming Minister George Eustice to press for convergence review details to be locked down.

The Secretary of State Owen Paterson opened the door to a review of CAP budgets in 2016 and NFU Scotland used today’s meeting in Edinburgh with George Eustice to underline that the timetable for that review process needs to be set in stone.

Speaking from Edinburgh, NFU Scotland President Nigel Miller said:

“While all eyes and ears will be on the Scottish Parliament later today to hear Scotland’s plans for CAP implementation, having the UK meet Europe’s vision for convergence has the potential to bring a fairer share of the funding to Scotland in the future.

“Defra’s decision last year not to use additional EU funds to address Europe’s wishes on convergence and start to lift Scotland’s average support payment closer to the European average was a deep disappointment to the industry.

“However, Defra has opened the door to a convergence review in 2016 and we have pressed George Eustice on the need to nail down the detail and timetable for that review.

“Europe’s vision for convergence, and the basis for the UK receiving additional money, was that support rates per hectare should start to converge towards the EU target of €196 per hectare by 2020 – that is a vision that the promised review has the opportunity to address.

“Convergence on the basis that similar farms in the UK receive similar levels of support is hard to argue against. Classifying land will be a vital first step in that process.”  

Notes to Editors

• A photograph of Nigel Miller and Vice President Rob Livesey in discussions with Defra Farming Minister George Eustice today is available on request from media@nfus.org.uk or by phoning 0131 472 4000.

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Contact Bob Carruth on 0131 472 4006