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Lochhead will seek Scottish clause confirmation and make case for coupled payment increase to European Commissioner.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead will today (Monday) seek clarity from Commissioner Ciolos on whether the European Commission will back the Scottish Government’s new proposals for implementing the ‘Scottish clause’ to tackle slipper farming.

The proposals centre on farmers having to keep livestock at an appropriate level linked to carrying capacity of their land, or demonstrate significant active efforts every year to maintain agricultural land in good condition, and have received positive feedback from stakeholders.

The Cabinet Secretary will also seek European Commission views on a higher rate of voluntary coupled support in Scotland after the UK Government surprisingly said it was up to Scottish Ministers to get agreement from Europe.

However, despite the UK Government's request for Scotland to seek the Commission's views, the Commissioner has made it clear that he will only meet with Scottish Ministers in Europe as part of a UK member state delegation which includes a UK Minister. The Scottish Government has therefore asked the UK Government to attend the meeting and make clear its support for Scotland’s request.

Mr Lochhead will meet Commissioner Ciolos while in Brussels for this week’s EU Agrifish Council. Speaking ahead of the meeting he said:

“Tackling slipper farming is an extremely important issue for Scotland and it is in Europe's interests to ensure the Scottish clause is implemented effectively. The Scottish Government has identified options that we believe are both workable and compatible with World Trade Organisation requirements.

“However, we’ve been getting mixed signals about what may or may not be possible under the new CAP regulations. That is why I would like to discuss our options with the Commissioner to clarify if our understanding is shared by the Commission.

"I am determined to do all I can to stamp out the scourge of slipper farming and ensure only hardworking, dedicated, dirty welly wearing farmers benefit from EU funding.

“I will also be making the case to Commissioner Ciolos for the ability to consider increasing coupled support in Scotland to 13 per cent to provide better options for supporting our livestock sectors as part of the new CAP.

"While other European countries successfully negotiated higher rates of voluntary coupled support in last year’s CAP deal, the UK actually argued for no coupled support initially, eventually agreeing eight per cent as part of the overall package. After failing Scotland’s livestock producers, the UK Government now says it is up to Scotland to negotiate our own higher percentage, yet this is something which we don’t have the power to do without the backing of the UK as the member state.

"I am very frustrated and perplexed by the latest stance adopted by UK Ministers given that we have been writing to Ministers and raising the issues of increasing our flexibility above eight per cent for months now.

"UK Ministers only starting making vague hints about allowing Scotland to use more than eight per cent when they at the same time announced they were not passing the budget uplift that came to the UK due to Scotland's low payments

"I am interested to know what prior discussions the UK has had behind the scenes with the Commission on this issue. However, whatever the background, if it is now the Scottish Government’s responsibility to get agreement from Europe to increase support to 13 per cent, then the UK Government has a moral obligation to give us its full support.

"However, if the UK had stood up for Scotland's farmers in the first place we would not be in this very confusing situation."

Notes to editors

The Scottish Government wrote to Commissioner Ciolos in December 2013 about slipper farming and to request a meeting.

Because of the Commissioner’s policy of insisting a member state Minister is present at meetings, the Scottish Government has now asked the UK Government to attend the meeting and make clear its support for Scotland’s requests regarding coupled support and the Scottish clause.