COMPENSATION for farmers and who pays for what is fast becoming a political football
Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll and Bute, has called on the Scottish Government to compensate Scotland’s farmers and crofters for the losses they have suffered due to the export ban and movement restrictions imposed because of the foot and mouth epidemic.
After a meeting with representatives of the Scottish livestock industry Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, met with representatives of the Scottish livestock industry on Monday and issued a press statement afterwards. He said: ‘It was a very useful meeting.
‘The Scottish Government will not stand idly by and watch our livestock sector go into melt down.
‘It is hugely disappointing that the UK Government continues to ignore the united calls from Scotland and accept that they are legally and morally responsible to fund schemes implemented as a direct result of the FMD outbreak, which was, ironically, created by the UK Government’s own laboratory.
‘We will continue to make representations to the UK Government. In the interim, we will continue to help our livestock industry in any way we can but clearly our resources are very limited. I intend to inform Parliament later this week of our plans to help our farmers.’
In the House of Commons, Alan Reid called on the UK Government to pay compensation to farmers and crofters throughout the UK.
Light lambs
The Scottish Government has already paid compensation to farmers and crofters for light lambs which had to be slaughtered as part of the welfare disposal scheme, said Mr Reid, but far more compensation is needed if a lot of bankruptcies amongst farmers and crofters are to be avoided.
Mr Reid said to the press after speaking in the Commons: ‘The argument between Holyrood and Whitehall must end, and the Scottish Government should pay compensation to Scotland’s farmers and crofters, otherwise we will see many go out of business with devastating results for our rural economy.’
Although the meat export ban and the movement restrictions have been lifted, the price of livestock has collapsed due the backlog of animals which could not be sold over recent months.
As the UK Government has refused to compensate Scotland’s farmers and crofters, the Scottish Government must step in.
Alan Reid has written to First Minister Alex Salmond and called on the Scottish Government to pay for a welfare disposal scheme for older ewes, as well as light lambs, with compensation; additional funding for the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme so that hard pressed hill farmers can survive; early payment of existing Single Farm Payment and LFASS monies. Mr Reid also called for a welfare scheme with full compensation paid to the farmer for dairy bull calves whose export market is still closed, and a headage payment on breeding ewes to compensate for market losses.
Mike Mackenzie, Argyll and Bute SNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate has said that a UK government laboratory caused the outbreak and the UK government should foot the bill.
He said: ‘On the principle of the ‘polluter pays’ the Scottish Government should not be held responsible or left to pick up the costs for lapses in bio-security which are the responsibility of the Westminster Government.
Mr Reid told The Courier: ‘We have seen an unedifying argument between Holyrood and Whitehall over who should pay compensation to our farmers and crofters for losses they have sustained through no fault of their own. The important thing is not where the money comes from, but that proper compensation should be paid.
