Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 June 2017
21 Jun 2017 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Agriculture
It would appear that there is no end in sight to this fiasco. The cabinet secretary in his first days in office said that it would be his top priority, but it appears that we are no further forward more than a year later.
There are a number of issues at stake: the impact on the public purse, on our farmers and crofters and on the rural economy.
I turn first to our famers and crofters. They have experienced difficulty in making claims and delays in receiving any money, whether it is substantial payments or loans. That has caused them to postpone plans for future development. All the while, the Scottish Government has put out press releases praising its investment in the rural economy—simply adding insult to injury.
I have spoken to people who are afraid to claim for a loan as they are not clear, under the new system, what their entitlement is and they cannot risk—[Interruption.]
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
I am not sure about polite name calling. I think that we will leave that by the by. The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-06186, in the name of...
Peter Chapman (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I remember, just over a year ago, reading the Audit Scotland report into the common agric...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
I recognise that the Auditor General stated last year that the costs would range between £40 million and £125 million, but does Mr Chapman recall that we hav...
Peter Chapman
Con
The interesting thing is that they came down to £5 million because we got an extra three months to pay the moneys out—until the end of October. If it happens...
Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green)
Green
Will Mr Chapman give way?
Peter Chapman
Con
Fergus Ewing regularly sings their praises, and I totally agree. They have been doing their absolute best and have had to endure angry exchanges with farmers...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Please sit down, Mr Wightman.
Peter Chapman
Con
I am sorry, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Wightman was asking if you would take an intervention, but you did not respond. We cannot have two members standing at the same time.
Peter Chapman
Con
I did not realise. I am sorry, Presiding Officer.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Unless you wish to take the intervention, of course.
Peter Chapman
Con
I am going to carry on. As we speak, there are teams in local area offices who are working overtime under huge pressure to deliver for our farmers. Fergus ...
Andy Wightman
Green
Will Mr Chapman take an intervention on that point?
Peter Chapman
Con
I heard him this time. Yes, indeed.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I think that I helped you, Mr Wightman.
Andy Wightman
Green
I thank Mr Chapman for taking an intervention. Will he confirm whether the £101,000 in 2015 and the £76,452 in 2016 that Peter Chapman Ltd received were on t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Bear with me for a moment, Mr Chapman—please sit down while I confer. That is a matter on which you may or may not wish to respond, Mr Chapman.
Peter Chapman
Con
It was a totally inappropriate question and I will not respond to it. Applause. That brings us to another of the serious issues that the Audit Scotland rep...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
It is always good to have the opportunity to debate agriculture in the chamber, but it is disappointing that, with so much potential for debate on the topic,...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
It would appear that there is no end in sight to this fiasco. The cabinet secretary in his first days in office said that it would be his top priority, but i...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am sorry Ms Grant, but someone who should not have their phone switched on has a friend calling them and it is spoiling your speech. Members: It is up th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I have located the culprit, so you may continue, Ms Grant.
Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood) (Con)
Con
It was coming from the gallery.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I am sorry, Mr Carlaw, but you went bright red, so I thought that it was your phone. Laughter. You will just have to stop blushing. On you go, Ms Grant. I a...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I have spoken to people whose development plans have been badly undermined and who have had to shelve plans to make their busi...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
I am absolutely aware of the difficulties facing individual farmers and crofters, but does Rhoda Grant recognise that the loan schemes that I instituted last...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Nobody argues that the loans should not have been paid; indeed, they were a necessity to allow people to continue to function. Unfortunately, they were not t...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Will the member give way?
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Do I have time, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Yes.