What investigations it has made as to whether any European Union funding is available to alleviate any aspect of the impact of the foot-and…

We have had constructive discussions with the European Commission on a wide range of issues. Examples of the positive results achieved thus far include:(a) the Commission has agreed to consider an EU contribution towards the costs of compensation to livestock producers who have had stock culled;(b) payment of around £46 million in EU livestock subsidies at the earliest date permissible under EU legislation. Payments under the new Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, which also receives EU funding, bring the total of subsidies paid to Scottish producers in the last month to around £100 million;(c) Commission agreement to EU funding towards the costs of agri-monetary compensation, which will be worth around £24 million in total to Scottish producers.Other EU funding, such as the Structural Funds and the resources allocated to the Scottish Rural Development Plan, will also bring significant benefits to rural areas affected by the outbreak. However, we have already confirmed with the Commission that these resources could not be redeployed to compensate individuals or businesses for economic losses caused by the foot and mouth emergency.