Written Question · S1W-04004 · Session 1
How much money is involved in the double payment of subsidy to some 120 farming participants in agri-environmental schemes, which schemes a…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money is involved in the double payment of subsidy to some 120 farming participants in agri-environmental schemes, which schemes are involved, and whether these participants will have future payments withheld if repayment is not sought.
The answer
Agri-environment stock disposal payments of up to £485,000 may have been made to farming and crofting participants in the Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme, Countryside Premium Scheme and Heather Moorland Scheme who were continuing to claim Sheep Annual Premium using quota rights which ought to have been frozen. I have already announced that I am not minded to recover the double payments, but the decision will ultimately rest on EC State Aid approval. Entitlement to future stock disposal payments will depend on whether producers opt to continue with the agri-environment stock disposal option. Those who choose this option will have frozen a number of quota rights equivalent to the number of animals for which they will receive headage payments under the agri-environment schemes.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-04004 by reference.