A north-east MSP is calling on the Scottish Government to set up an expert group to examine future agricultural subsidy support once the UK leaves Europe.
Liberal Democrat MSP Mike Rumbles yesterday raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions.
He asked: “Will the Scottish Government, as I have been asking them for a long time now, set up a specialist group now to design options that we want to see how our funding should be spent in Scotland post-2020?”
Responding to Mr Rumbles, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Government would consider all options and talk to stakeholders in the agriculture industry.
She said the priority however would be ensuring Scotland’s share, and in particular Scottish agriculture’s share, of extra UK Government funding as a result of not paying into the EU was delivered.
Mr Rumbles accused the First Minister of burying her head in the sand and said Scottish Government had the opportunity to deliver a farm payment system “free from constraints, that works to the strengths of Scotland’s rural economy”.
He said: “The Scottish Government must set up a team of experts now, to make sure support for our rural communities continues and lay the groundwork for the years to come.”