Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Twenty-four farmers across Scotland convicted under Cattle Identification Regulations and Cattle Database Regulations are to have their convictions set aside and fines repaid. The details were revealed in Written Parliamentary Answers to Banff & Buchan SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson who had raised the matter in Parliament.
Mr Stevenson questioned the Scottish Executive on the issue after concerns were expressed at a recent meeting with local farmers. DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) made the Scottish Executive aware in June this year that laws relating to cattle movement had been repealed in August 2000. As result, 24 convictions have taken place in Scotland for breaching regulations which did not exist.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“This whole episode has been a real Whitehall farce on the part of the London Government.
“Farmers have to contend with a huge amount of red tape as it is and instances such as these just go to prove that even the Government does not know which regulations they are imposing on the agriculture industry.
“The farmers affected are in the process of being written to and getting their fines repaid but it is hard enough trying to make a living from farming without being fined for breaking laws which do not exist. Those affected should get their money back as soon as possible with interest.”
Categories [Environment and Rural Development]
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
