How many crofters from the Lairg Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office area can apply for the Less Favoured Areas Support Sc…

The additional payments within the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme for keeping cattle are designed to encourage a better balance between cattle and sheep across Scotland's Less Favoured Area. Any producer whose cattle constitute 10% or more of the total livestock units in the business is eligible for increased payments. A further increase is made when cattle constitute 50% or more of the total livestock units.One hundred and eleven crofts (out of 354) within the boundaries covered by the Lairg Area Office are projected to have at least 10% of their livestock units in cattle.The figures for 2003 are projections based on the current claimant database. The final outturn will be influenced by claimant and other changes which will affect the current database.