The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 1892 contributions
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
Pardon?
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
I am not going to get into semantics with the member. I am asking the committee to pass the SSI so that we can get on with the serious work of getting in place the support systems that the farming community wants.
10:45Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
I do not know. I was not part of that process.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
I will respond by saying I have listened carefully to the points that have been made. I am happy to stick with the 2030 date, and I am also happy to recommit to on-going engagement. In response to Ariane Burgess’s point, we will get some clarity on what the delivery looks like, but I urge the committee to please pass the SSI today and allow us to get on with the work of delivering the programmes.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
No. I mean that the NFUS, as an organisation, has come to me and told me that. I have spoken directly to the convener of the LFASS committee, and he said that there has been a misrepresentation of the NFUS’s position on the acceptance of the SSI. It is not just Martin Kennedy; it is people in the organisation who talk to the Government on a regular basis.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
Again, the SSI has nothing to do with stocking levels in 2009. The SSI is entirely about creating the mechanism to allow us to continue to make payments. If people want to talk about stocking levels in 2009 or rebasing, those discussions will be had.
As for the implementation of other policy that is coming, all of that is still in the mix. I have just confirmed to Ariane Burgess that we are having conversations right now on how future LFASS support will shape up. That is being done in conjunction with the farming community and wider stakeholders.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
I sit on ARIOB—
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
—but the cabinet secretary co-chairs it with Martin Kennedy. I was asked about the make-up of ARIOB, but I do not know how it was created, because I was not there. It was set up three—or two and a half—years ago.
As for the letter that you are talking about, I have not heard about it or seen it, and I have no idea whether it has been delivered to officials.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
Okay—that is a technical question.
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Meeting date: 9 October 2024
Jim Fairlie
There are multiple stakeholders. For example, Scottish Environment LINK responded to the call for views. Everyone who has a vested interest in what we are trying to deliver is part of those conversations. If there is concern about ARIOB, I am more than happy to have conversations outwith and beyond it.