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The next item of business is consideration of Parliamentary Bureau motion S6M-15228, on approval of a Scottish statutory instrument.
Motion moved,
That the Parliament agrees that the Rural Development (Continuation of Operation) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.—[Jamie Hepburn]
Thank you, minister. I call Tim Eagle, who has up to three minutes.
16:59
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests as a farmer and former land agent.
The Scottish Conservatives share the concerns of many in the farming industry with regard to the proposals that are in the regulations before us.
There is no doubt that the proposed regulations are important—I want to clarify that. They seek to extend the operation of rural development support schemes such as the Scottish rural development programme and the less-favoured area support scheme, which are a lifeline for many farmers, beyond the current expiry date of 31 December 2024. However, the regulations suggest a new end date of 31 December 2030. A consultation by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee raised concerns that that is an unnecessarily lengthy extension, especially considering that the Government’s “Agricultural Reform Route Map” suggests that 2027 at the latest would be more appropriate. Equally, many stakeholders have raised concerns that LFASS continues on a 2018 payment rate and is in need of rebasing to ensure that it reflects changes to agricultural businesses.
My concern is that, in the round, this Scottish statutory instrument simply sends the wrong message to the industry about its future. Sadly, we are not allowed to amend an SSI, but the Scottish Conservatives have continuously asked the Scottish Government to rewrite the regulations in response to the concerns that have been raised. The Government has chosen not to do so. Although I stress that we want payments and the schemes to continue, we cannot actively support this SSI today for the above reasons.
17:01
I want to make three points abundantly clear. The regulations do not cut across or replace the published “Agricultural Reform Route Map”. The route map is a living document that sets out the phased transition from legacy common agricultural policy support into a new four-tier framework. It sets out in detail the changes for 2025, and we laid the regulations on that last week. The route map will be further updated in 2025 with the detail proposed for greening changes for 2026.
The route map states that legacy Scottish rural development programme schemes will continue with no change until at least 2026, with further engagement required on how that support may be delivered from 2027. We have committed to keep the route map updated, and we will continue to provide more clarity as and when it becomes available through co-development with rural partners in the agricultural reform programme.
Will Jim Fairlie take an intervention?
No, I will not.
All that the regulations do is to extend until 2030 the legal basis for continued SRDP support at programme level. The regulations are simple and straightforward by design, and they do not change policy, outcomes or payments—that was never the intent and nor is it what we publicly committed to. The regulations will allow us to provide support for less-favoured areas, crofting, agri-environment measures, forestry and community-led local development, to name but a few. If the regulations are not approved, there will be no support and no phased transition—only a cliff edge.
In the previous session, the Parliament extended the legal basis for continued SRDP support until the end of 2024. It is now for the Parliament to vote to do the same thing until 2030. To be clear, that does not mean that there will be no change or that every scheme will run as is in every year until 2030. It means that, instead of constant cliff edges and annual visits to Parliament to extend schemes, we will come back when there is a change to make or when we bring forward replacement support.
The regulations are a pragmatic approach that provides continued assurance and a backstop. They enable us to focus our collective time and resource on the co-development of new support within the four-tier framework using the powers in the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024. The regulations deliver on our public commitments and what we consulted on, and they are essential, as they underpin the route map and enable the phased transition to take place. I hope that today we can provide some much-needed assurance to our farmers, crofters and land managers and show that, unlike elsewhere, the Scottish Parliament continues to value and support them.
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.
The next item of business is consideration of eight Parliamentary Bureau motions. I ask the minister, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, to move motion S6M-15229, on approval of a United Kingdom statutory instrument; motions S6M-15230 and S6M-15231, on approval of SSIs; motions S6M-15232 and S6M-15233, on committee membership; motions S6M-15234 and S6M-15235, on committee substitutes; and motion S6M-15236, on the office of the clerk.
Motions moved,
That the Parliament agrees that the Scotland Act 1998 (Specification of Devolved Tax) (Building Safety) Order 2024 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Upper Tribunal for Scotland Bus Registration Appeals (Composition) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that the Upper Tribunal for Scotland (Transfer of Functions of the Transport Tribunal) Regulations 2024 [draft] be approved.
That the Parliament agrees that—
Jackie Dunbar be appointed to replace Stephanie Callaghan as a member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee; and
Kevin Stewart be appointed to replace Jackie Dunbar as a member of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.
That the Parliament agrees that Daniel Johnson be appointed to replace Claire Baker as a member of the Economy and Fair Work Committee.
That the Parliament agrees that—
Meghan Gallacher be appointed to replace Pam Gosal as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee;
Stephen Kerr be appointed as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Criminal Justice Committee;
Oliver Mundell be appointed as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee;
Pam Gosal be appointed to replace Liz Smith as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Economy and Fair Work Committee;
Rachael Hamilton be appointed as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee;
Annie Wells be appointed to replace Sue Webber as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee;
Graham Simpson be appointed as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee;
Sue Webber be appointed to replace Graham Simpson as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee;
Brian Whittle be appointed as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee; and
Roz McCall be appointed to replace Miles Briggs as the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party substitute on Social Justice and Social Security Committee.
That the Parliament agrees that Claire Baker be appointed to replace Daniel Johnson as the Scottish Labour Party substitute on the Economy and Fair Work Committee.
That the Parliament agrees that the Office of the Clerk be closed on Tuesday 24 (am), Friday 27, Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December 2024.—[Jamie Hepburn]
The question on the motions will be put at decision time.
Air ais
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Decision Time