Jamie Greene, Conservative candidate for Cunninghame North, has thrown down the gauntlet on vital CAP payments to farmers after it was announced that payments might be up to 4 months late for some after the SNP admitted it wouldn't be able to process the money on time.
The first payments to farmers are usually paid at the beginning of December. This week, the Scottish Government confirmed that the payments would be made in two instalments, with only a quarter of farmers receiving the first instalment by the December deadline.
It means many farmers in North Ayrshire could be forced to borrow more money from banks, with many facing considerable uncertainty as a result.
Further to a recent visit to North Ayrshire to meet with Jamie Greene, Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesman Alex Fergusson said:
"Richard Lochhead was given the responsibility of designing a CAP regime specifically designed for Scottish needs by the UK Government. Yet, despite commissioning a purpose-built computer system that cost £100 million more than its original estimate of £70 million and now totals £10,000 per payment application, he has failed to deliver. His announcement that a quarter of farmers will receive 70 per cent of their payment in December with the rest having to wait until January, February or March simply confirms that there have been enormous problems with the verification part of the claims.
"That's something I warned him about months ago – yet it is individual farmers who will pay the price for his ineptitude."
Jamie Greene, local Tory candidate added to the debate saying that "The farming sector is experiencing very difficult economic times as we all know, but many farmers will now be at the mercy of their banks to see them through the weeks and months ahead until their basic payments drop through the letter box. During my General Election campaign I made great effort to meet with farmers from across North Ayrshire and Arran and this was their number one priority. All they ask is that Holyrood is able to deliver on its responsibilities on paying them the right amount at the right time. I wrote to Richard Locchead on this matter and published my letter in the local press. He replied and assured me that Ayrshire farmers would not suffer the same problems as last year.
For many, extra borrowing will be required to see them through the next few months and will not come cheap, once again this is down to the incompetent stewardship of the Scottish Government."