NFU Scotland has repeated its position to Lord Bew, chair of the current Review of Intra-UK Allocation of Domestic Farm Funding, that it believes Scotland’s farm funding shortfall of almost £190m must be addressed.

Lord Bew was taking evidence from farming stakeholders, as he’s devising recommendations on how farm funding will be divided within the UK administrations outside the EU.

NFU Scotland wants Scotland to get a greater slice of the convergence money awarded to the UK from the EU. Lord Bew was told that the extra money was awarded exclusively as a result of Scotland’s low CAP support payment rate per hectare (approx. €130/ha), and that the UK was awarded the convergence uplift in 2013, as part of the European reforms of CAP.

“There was never a rational justification for using historic allocations to distribute this uplift,” said NFU president Andrew McCornick.

“The UK was given the uplift because of Scotland’s low payment rate and that should have meant that the money was paid to Scotland’s farmers and crofters. Now we have an opportunity to correct this long-running sore and it needs to be addressed. We need this wrong made right.

“The outcome of this review has the potential to set the factors that will determine how agricultural support is awarded across the UK in the future. Post-Brexit, a UK agricultural budget will be needed.

“NFU Scotland continues to pursue a clear commitment from the UK government for a future ring-fenced, multi-annual agricultural budget for Scotland of at least the same quantum as now. And taking cognisance of the shortfall created by the inappropriate allocation of the previous uplift.”