CABINET SECRETARY UNABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW INSPECTIONS BUDGET WILL BE PLUGGED: HUME
September 29, 2011 5:11 PM
Scottish Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson Jim Hume urged the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead to support Scotland's farmers and reverse the damaging 19.3% cut in real terms to the Payments and Inspections Administration budget, outlined in the Scottish Government's spending review, during questions to the Cabinet Secretary today.
Commenting Mr Hume said:
"Farmers and crofters all over Scotland are concerned by Scottish Government plans to slash the budget for payments and inspections.
"Famers and crofters are expected to carry out these inspections and I wanted to hear from the Cabinet Secretary how he expects this shortfall will be plugged without more burden falling on those in the industry.
"The Cabinet Secretary's inability to give any guarantee about how this shortfall will be plugged will send a worrying message to famers.
"The Cabinet Secretary has made it clear that at present he has no idea what is going to happen in the future with this decrease in the budget only saying that he hoped that the industry would not be adversely effected.
"We need a strong assurances from the Scottish Government that those levels of support will remain and that the quality of the payment and inspection service will not be corroded by this drop in budget heaping more pressure on an already over stretched industry."
Ends
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