- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to the agriculture industry in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer
Farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands benefit from the same support arrangements as farmers in all other parts of the country. This includes advice and information from SEERAD and its agencies as well as the main Common Agricultural Policy subsidies which pay some £100 million per annum to farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands.Highlands and Islands also benefits from measures which are unique to that area including:the Agricultural Business Development Scheme which will provide £17 million between 2001 and 2006;the Crofting Community Development Scheme worth around £1 million between 2001 and 2006;the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme which has a budget of £2.7 million for 2001-02; andthe Crofters' Building Grants and Loan Scheme with a budget of £2.9 million for 2001-02.Farmers and crofters in the area also benefit from the Livestock Improvement Scheme and the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 31 January 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer when it will publish the farm income figures for 2001.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is today publishing the Scottish farm income figures. The estimated figures show that Total Income from Farming (TIFF) rose by 11% in 2001 to £273 million.Compensation payments for animals culled due to foot-and-mouth disease do not count towards TIFF because they are payments for the loss of capital assets. These payments, which are estimated at around £165 million in Scotland, enter the accounts as capital transfers.Average Net Farm Income (NFI) is forecast to rise in 2001-02 by two-thirds to almost £9,600. Dairy and general cropping farms are forecast to show the greatest improvement in their financial position while the incomes of Less Favoured Area specialised sheep farms are expected to deteriorate with negative NFIs on average. Detailed estimates of the outputs, inputs and income of Scottish agriculture at both the aggregate level and by farm type will be published this morning and will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18811).
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 January 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is undertaking in order to improve children's services.
Answer
Securing better outcomes for children and young people in Scotland is one of our top priorities. We have established a new Cabinet Sub-Committee on children's services, chaired by the First Minister, to drive this forward. This met for the first time in December and agreed priority tasks for the next 12 months; including an integrated approach to assessment of needs and supporting joint working at local level. We are providing resources to back change through the Changing Children's Services Fund. We have also issued guidance on an integrated approach to planning for children's services.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 13 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult crofters and farmers about the implementation of a new Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme.
Answer
The Scottish Executive consulted widely on support for farming in Scotland's less favoured areas when the scheme was initially introduced. It has also been working closely with the Industry Working Group in amending the scheme for 2002. Any future changes will be made in the light of advice from the Industry Working Group and will be based on the Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture, on which there was a wide consultation. A decision on whether it is necessary to consult more widely on any new scheme will be taken in due course.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what information it has received about (i) any fixed Sheep Annual Premium (SAP) to be agreed by the Agriculture Council of the European Union on 20 November 2001 and (ii) the year in which any such SAP would first be payable, and (b), should any such SAP not be payable in 2002, what plans it has to compensate crofters and farmers for hardship caused by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
Answer
I attended the Agriculture Council on 20 November in the expectation that changes would be agreed to the EU sheepmeat regime. Unfortunately, negotiations foundered but there were positive elements contained in the latest Presidency proposal which I have supported and which I hope can be agreed soon in order for changes to come into effect from next year.A very important element for Scottish producers was the proposed move to a flat rate premium payable from the year 2002. The rate proposed was 21 euros per eligible ewe, plus seven euros for LFA producers. A national envelope would also be established payable at one euro per ewe which might be targeted to suit particular Scottish needs. The move away from a deficiency based calculation will provide producers with more financial certainty about the level of income accruing from this particular source, and it is estimated that SAP payments will increase by around £24 million in respect of 2002 compared with 2001.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 22 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses (a) have submitted applications and (b) have received funding under the (i) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme, (ii) Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, (iii) Beef Special Premium Scheme, (iv) Extensification Premium Scheme and (v) Arable Area Payment Scheme from April 1999 to date, broken down by each Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office in the Highlands and Islands area, and how many have applications currently under consideration.
Answer
The information you require for the 1999 and 2000 scheme year is shown. Information has not been supplied for the 2001 scheme year because the payment information is incomplete.
ERAD Area Office | AAPS | AAPS |
Scheme year 1999 | Scheme year 2000 |
applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration | applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration |
Oban | 80 | 80 | 0 | 80 | 80 | 0 |
Elgin | 157 | 157 | 0 | 150 | 150 | 0 |
Ayr | 40 | 40 | 0 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
Inverness | 447 | 447 | 0 | 478 | 478 | 0 |
Portree | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Benbecula | 271 | 271 | 0 | 276 | 276 | 0 |
Kirkwall | 417 | 417 | 0 | 430 | 430 | 0 |
Stornoway | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Lairg | 53 | 53 | 0 | 42 | 42 | 0 |
Thurso | 302 | 302 | 0 | 288 | 288 | 0 |
Lerwick | 20 | 20 | 0 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
ERAD Area Office | SAPS | SAPS |
Scheme year 1999 | Scheme year 2000 |
applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration | applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration |
Oban | 784 | 761 | 15 | 768 | 753 | 6 |
Elgin | 114 | 114 | 0 | 114 | 111 | 0 |
Ayr | 97 | 95 | 1 | 95 | 94 | 0 |
Inverness | 993 | 965 | 15 | 966 | 934 | 13 |
Portree | 491 | 485 | 3 | 482 | 474 | 7 |
Benbecula | 614 | 602 | 8 | 600 | 584 | 4 |
Kirkwall | 447 | 439 | 2 | 427 | 419 | 5 |
Stornoway | 1398 | 1330 | 23 | 1228 | 1268 | 19 |
Lairg | 435 | 422 | 9 | 437 | 429 | 3 |
Thurso | 662 | 649 | 8 | 646 | 636 | 7 |
Lerwick | 1162 | 1139 | 16 | 1126 | 1105 | 12 |
ERAD Area Office | SCPS | SCPS |
Scheme year 1999 | Scheme year 2000 |
applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration | applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration |
Oban | 547 | 539 | 7 | 520 | 511 | 3 |
Elgin | 152 | 152 | 0 | 146 | 146 | 0 |
Ayr | 63 | 62 | 0 | 59 | 59 | 0 |
Inverness | 753 | 738 | 10 | 708 | 688 | 12 |
Portree | 249 | 242 | 4 | 234 | 222 | 9 |
Benbecula | 216 | 214 | 0 | 204 | 198 | 3 |
Kirkwall | 596 | 593 | 2 | 562 | 557 | 3 |
Stornoway | 91 | 90 | 0 | 92 | 89 | 0 |
Lairg | 178 | 176 | 1 | 165 | 159 | 6 |
Thurso | 485 | 479 | 3 | 457 | 449 | 1 |
Lerwick | 148 | 146 | 2 | 142 | 137 | 4 |
ERAD Area Office | BSPS | BSPS |
Scheme year 1999 | Scheme year 2000 |
applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration | applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration |
Oban | 1,446 | 436 | 22 | 1,374 | 448 | 13 |
Elgin | 563 | 148 | 4 | 543 | 135 | 13 |
Ayr | 317 | 71 | 2 | 294 | 68 | 0 |
Inverness | 2,115 | 563 | 22 | 2,090 | 558 | 2 |
Portree | 118 | 74 | 1 | 126 | 71 | 2 |
Benbecula | 92 | 51 | 0 | 92 | 50 | 0 |
Kirkwall | 2,366 | 640 | 10 | 2,440 | 609 | 6 |
Stornoway | 122 | 75 | 3 | 141 | 82 | 0 |
Lairg | 222 | 94 | 0 | 227 | 119 | 1 |
Thurso | 1,108 | 375 | 2 | 1,173 | 379 | 5 |
Lerwick | 222 | 111 | 1 | 213 | 103 | 0 |
ERAD Area Office | EPS | EPS |
Scheme year 1999 | Scheme year 2000 |
applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration | applications received | payments issued | applications under consideration |
Oban | Not applicable | 743 | 422 | Not available |
Elgin | Not applicable | 165 | 123 | Not available |
Ayr | Not applicable | 99 | 60 | Not available |
Inverness | Not applicable | 884 | 412 | Not available |
Portree | Not applicable | 267 | 71 | Not available |
Benbecula | Not applicable | 282 | 45 | Not available |
Kirkwall | Not applicable | 669 | 576 | Not available |
Stornoway | Not applicable | 140 | 72 | Not available |
Lairg | Not applicable | 202 | 96 | Not available |
Thurso | Not applicable | 576 | 364 | Not available |
Lerwick | Not applicable | 179 | 98 | Not available |
Notes:The applications received include applications withdrawn/rejected; this explains the difference between the number of applications received and the combined payments issued and applications under consideration figures.BSPS applications received figures reflect the fact that producers can submit more than one application per year. However, payments are consolidated and paid per producer rather than per claim.No figures are given for EPS 1999 because applications and payments were combined with the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme and the Beef Special Premium Scheme.The 2000 EPS applications under consideration figures will not be available until significant program changes are made. We have no plans to introduce these changes.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why the current year's Less Favoured Area Support Scheme budget of #63.4 million is projected to underspend by #2.8 million.
Answer
The underspend arose for two reasons. 2001 was the first year of the new scheme and certain assumptions had to be made about the correct split of improved pasture and rough grazing. These were subsequently adjusted. The second reason was that the 2001 scheme limited gains to sparsely stocked farms by imposing minimum stocking densities. In 2001 this latter change reduced the area of eligible rough grazing by 24% and improved pasture by 2%.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the #2.8 million saved from the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme 2001 will be allocated to the 2002 budget for the scheme and whether specific consideration will be given to addressing any geographic disadvantage in the disbursement of the funds.
Answer
I intend to increase the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme budget for 2002 by £2 million - the likely underspend from 2001. The joint Industry/Executive Working Group is currently considering how this money should be used.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 1 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses claimed less than ?1,250 under the (a) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme, (b) Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, (c) Beef Special Premium Scheme, (d) Extensification Premium Scheme and (e) Arable Area Payment Scheme from 1 April 1999 to date, broken down by each Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office in the Highlands and Islands area.
Answer
The numbers of producers who claimed less than €1,250 under the schemes requested are given in the table. Figures for 2001 have not been supplied as scheme payments are continuing.
ERAD Highlands & Islands Area Office | Scheme year 1999 | Scheme year 2000 |
Oban | 114 | 146 |
Elgin | 21 | 17 |
Ayr | 6 | 9 |
Inverness | 255 | 302 |
Portree | 151 | 175 |
Benbecula | 302 | 353 |
Kirkwall | 90 | 97 |
Stornoway | 706 | 835 |
Lairg | 91 | 132 |
Thurso | 121 | 160 |
Lerwick | 319 | 416 |
Total | 2,176 | 2,652 |
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 1 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) cattle and (b) sheep and how much arable ground were claimed for under the (i) Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, (ii) Beef Special Premium Scheme, (iii) Extensification Premium Scheme, (iv) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme and (v) Arable Area Payment Scheme in 2000-01 and 2001-02 to date and how many (a) cattle and (b) sheep and how much arable land were claimed for under each scheme by small producers, broken down by each Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office in the Highlands and Islands area.
Answer
The livestock numbers and arable land area in scheme years 2000 and 2001, for all Scottish producers, are given in tables 1 & 2. The 2001 figures are partial, as they include only information on the IACS applications processed so far. Table 3 shows "small producers" for scheme year 2000. These were assumed to be producers who earned a total of €1,250 or less in subsidy payments. Figures have not been provided for 2001 as processing is on-going. Table 1: 2000 scheme year
ERAD Highlands & Islands Area Office | Sheep | Suckler cows | Beef cows | Arable land (ha) 1 |
Oban | 329,557 | 21,978 | 10,319 | 1,363.33 |
Elgin | 43,881 | 10,371 | 5,809 | 4,812.07 |
Ayr | 35,986 | 3,441 | 2,559 | 523.17 |
Inverness | 276,663 | 28,853 | 17,046 | 25,122.56 |
Portree | 94,927 | 2,662 | 383 | 0 |
Benbecula | 43,862 | 2,026 | 352 | 691.92 |
Kirkwall | 66,350 | 30,596 | 22,281 | 4,040.90 |
Stornoway | 91,116 | 460 | 287 | 0.90 |
Lairg | 86,034 | 2,827 | 1,349 | 975.70 |
Thurso | 149,065 | 21,179 | 10,230 | 5,901.04 |
Lerwick | 191,554 | 1,893 | 780 | 84.29 |
Total | 1,408,995 | 126,286 | 71,395 | 43,515.88 |
Table 2: 2001 scheme year
ERAD Highlands & Islands Area Office | Sheep | Suckler cows | Beef cows | Arable land (ha) 1 |
Oban | 325,116 | 5,799 | 7,299 | 1,294.50 |
Elgin | 42,159 | 2,523 | 3,160 | 2,282.40 |
Ayr | 34,364 | 1,431 | 1,877 | 514.95 |
Inverness | 266,534 | 9,509 | 9,534 | 12,200.00 |
Portree | 95,854 | 407 | 287 | 0 |
Benbecula | 42,099 | 577 | 222 | 656.12 |
Kirkwall | 65,724 | 15,429 | 11,824 | 3,808.90 |
Stornoway | 88,389 | 73 | 244 | 0 |
Lairg | 84,102 | 541 | 903 | 789.42 |
Thurso | 142,236 | 6,467 | 7,338 | 5,366.90 |
Lerwick | 189,611 | 659 | 475 | 67.97 |
Total | 1,376,188 | 43,415 | 46,163 | 26,981.16 |
Notes:1. The above hectarage figures cover all land entered on Scottish Area Aid Applications and will include land farmed in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.Table 3: 2000 scheme year (small producers)
ERAD Highlands & Islands Area Office | Sheep | Suckler cows | Beef cows | Arable land (ha) |
Oban | 3,086 | 120 | 81 | 3.70 |
Elgin | 175 | 11 | 12 | 13.21 |
Ayr | 211 | 3 | 7 | 0.00 |
Inverness | 6,503 | 244 | 107 | 32.61 |
Portree | 4,751 | 101 | 14 | 0.00 |
Benbecula | 8,846 | 90 | 9 | 101.17 |
Kirkwall | 1,901 | 39 | 66 | 16.63 |
Stornoway | 26,898 | 48 | 39 | 0.90 |
Lairg | 4,207 | 41 | 13 | 4.00 |
Thurso | 4,526 | 57 | 35 | 24.19 |
Lerwick | 13,203 | 14 | 4 | 0.00 |
Total | 74,307 | 768 | 387 | 196.41 |