Scottish government spends £200m on IT for farming payments

More than £200m has been spent by the Scottish government since 2016 on external consultants to run the farming subsidy system, it has been revealed.

Over the past nine years, an average of £20m a year has been paid to companies to advise and administer agricultural support payments.

The total expenditure stands at just over £203m, with the majority going to three external firms.

See also: Calls for Defra budget transparency after SFI closure

Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon has defended the spending.

“These payments are for IT services, not consultancy, to deliver ongoing operational delivery, maintenance, modernisation, cybersecurity and development to a range of areas, including vital farming support payments, NatureScot, forestry, marine, estates management, plant health, and livestock inspections,” she said.

Despite this, farmers have raised concerns about the system’s effectiveness.

Many believe the current setup is unsuitable and worry that upcoming changes to payment processes could render the IT systems obsolete.

Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary Tim Eagle sharply criticised the government’s spending.

“[Agriculture and connectivity minister] Jim Fairlie’s arrogant and dismissive responses will have done nothing to reassure Scotland’s farmers that he is taking this issue seriously,” he said.

“His government have squandered an astonishing amount of taxpayer’s money on IT consultants to help administer farming payments. The question is, why is that necessary?

“This is money that could have been spent supporting our farmers, crofters and the wider agricultural sector.”

Mr Eagle also took issue with the government’s response to industry criticism.

“Following widespread criticism from industry leaders, the minister has some cheek to say the SNP are always on their side when key decisions have been taken contrary to what farmer-led groups have suggested,” he said.

In response, Ms Gougeon pointed to reduced expenditure in recent years, claiming that the investments had led to faster payments to farmers and crofters, and improved performance on agricultural support payments.

She also emphasised that all contracts were subject to Scottish government procurement procedures to ensure value for money.