MSP Seeks Further Assurances From Finnie On Cattle Convictions

Banff & Buchan SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson has raised further questions in Parliament following the Scottish Executive’s admission that farmers across Scotland were convicted of breaking cattle movement laws which did not exist.

Twenty-four farmers were convicted and have had their convictions quashed and fines repaid. However, questions arose over the implications of this ruling for those who had faced subsidy penalties for not complying with the non-existent regulations, and those who had been convicted during the reference period for the single farm payment.

Mr Stevenson tabled further questions in the Scottish Parliament. Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie has stated that his officials are taking legal advice on the matter, but has confirmed that if his advice is that support scheme payments were affected, then the Government would move to reverse the penalties which had been applied.

Mr Stevenson commented:

“The fact that SEERAD are having to spend so long taking legal advice on the matter is further evidence of the whole bureaucratic nightmare which farmers have to contend with. One would have thought it would be a relatively simple matter to work out how subsidy payments had been affected by applying penalties for breaking non-existent laws.

“I shall be keeping a close eye on the Government’s progress in clearing up this mess.

“This just goes to show that the whole system is a house of cards and is in need of urgent reform to become more user-friendly for farmers. I am confident that an SNP Government after next May under Alex Salmond’s leadership will give urgent attention to reforming measures which will reduce red tape.”
Categories [Environment and Rural Development]