£1.6 Billion Investment in Rural Development
Local MSP Linda Fabiani, has welcomed an investment of almost £1.6 billion for agriculture, forestry environment and community projects across Scotland.
The funding for the Scottish Rural Development Programme will cover the years 2007-2013.
The newly appointed Minister for Europe, Ms Fabiani said:
“This is excellent news for rural communities across the country. Farmers, foresters and environmental interests will all reap enormous benefits.
“My colleague, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead, called in key stakeholders to hear at first hand their views on the programme which they all helped to shape.
“Not only is the SNP Cabinet able to approve the programme in its entirety, but have agreed to allocate a further £70 million of Scottish Government funding over seven years to expand it further.
“What we now have is the largest investment programme in history for rural Scotland which will benefit everyone. This will ensure the programme will increase competitiveness in agriculture and forestry, enhance the environment and support rural communities.
“I am pleased the rate of voluntary modulation – the transfer of funds from the Single Farm Payment to Rural Development – will be much lower than some of the speculative figures that have appeared in recent weeks.
“The Scottish government will also be going ahead with a £10 million package as part of the seven year programme to attract new entrants into farming. New blood is essential to sustain the vitality of Scotland’s rural communities.”
Voluntary Modulation is the transfer of resources from the Single Farm Payment (Pillar 1 of the Common Agriculture Policy) to the Rural Development Fund (Pillar 2 of the CAP).
The rates of voluntary modulation for Scotland will be submitted to the European Commission as part of the UK submission on or before June 12.
These rates will be
5 per cent in 2007
8 per cent in 2008
8.5 per cent in 2009
9 per cent in each year from 2010-12 inclusive
The investment of £1.59 billion over seven years will come from the Scottish Government, the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development and national modulation of the Single Farm Payment.
The Rural Development Programme can be accessed here:
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