Hansard

I remind members of my entry in the register of members’ interests, which notes that I am a farmer.

Tonight, we are being asked to support an SSI on the new whole-farm plan, which contains a new condition that farmers and crofters across the country will have to comply with in order to receive basic agricultural support. Those who apply for support this year will need to complete two of five new plans: an animal health and welfare plan, a biodiversity audit, an integrated pest management plan, a carbon audit and a soil analysis.

My colleagues and I will support the SSI today. However, to suggest that we fully support it would be far from accurate. We do not want to hold up vital payments to farmers, but I want to be open with the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity and say that we walk very, very tepidly with him. If he read the room correctly during the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee’s session on the topic, he will know that there are real concerns across the Parliament about the process of agricultural policy change.

I have two key fears. The first is that the rural support plan—a key document that sets the overall vision and strategy for agricultural support—is not due to be placed before the Parliament until after a series of pieces of secondary legislation have implemented various new policies. I am aware that stakeholders outside Parliament are deeply worried about that.

Equally, there is concern that the SSI, along with a previous SSI on the Scottish suckler beef support scheme and future secondary legislation, will not treat smaller farmers and crofters fairly and that they will be disadvantaged by the changes. The industry wanted to see less bureaucracy, not more, and I remain concerned that the plans not only will be detrimental to some parts of our industry but will not actually achieve any outcomes. I realise that the Scottish Government seems to like doing this, but, if we put legislation through when we do not have key information, we put it through in a vacuum. That undermines Parliament’s ability to provide fair scrutiny and risks damage to our incredible agricultural community.

Our farmers and crofters produce great-quality food and drink, and we lead the world on animal health and welfare. The industry is desperately seeking new methods to increase biodiversity, reduce climate impacts and make sure that we all have wholesome food on our tables. There is more to do, but the Government must work with and for the industry. That includes recognising the worrying reduction in livestock numbers and helping to support production so that the whole supply chain, which brings with it thousands of jobs in Scotland, can prosper.

As always, the Scottish Conservatives give our full and unwavering support to our agricultural community on farm and in the wider supply chain, but, unless more answers are given in respect of future agricultural policy, we may not be so willing to vote with the minister the next time.