Green policies to the fore in new Scot’s government work agenda

Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf has set out his “programme for government” for 2023-24, including a long list of priorities for farming and the rural economy, with a particular emphasis on environmental delivery.

In an extended letter to rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon, Mr Yousaf highlighted the twin challenges of climate change and nature loss, alongside the more general issues of the impact of the Brexit, the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis.

See also: NFUS leads demands for food security ahead of Ag Bill launch

The letter sets out 24 specific “outcomes” for farming he expects Ms Gougeon to deliver on, including introducing a new Agriculture Bill “to establish a framework for future rural support”.

Another key priority is to ensure that stricter conditions are attached to any future direct payments to farmers.

“This will better incentivise sustainable and regenerative practice, on-farm nature restoration and climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, while supporting our producers in high-quality food production,” says the letter.

Ms Gougeon is also being tasked with developing a new Basic payment Scheme (BPS), making advance payments of BPS money in the next 12 months, funding training for new entrants, young farmers and women, and introducing a Land Reform Bill.

There is also a demand to speed up woodland creation, with 12,000ha of new plantings in 2023-24, and a wish to phase out cages for laying hens.

Reaction

The announcement has been criticised by Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary Rachael Hamilton MSP, who described the letter as “pitifully thin on the ground”.

“There was only a passing mention of the long-awaited Agriculture Bill, which the industry is desperate to see the detail on,” she said.

“Given the huge challenges they are currently facing, our farmers, crofters and agriculture sector deserved to hear some meat on the bone as to what future support will look like and when this bill will finally be brought to the chamber.”

NFU Scotland is also likely to be disappointed, given that it wrote to Mr Yousaf just days before the announcement, demanding that higher priority be given to food production and food security.

The union also wants increased and ring-fenced funding for agriculture, at least 80% of future funding to be paid as direct support, a “Scottish first” food policy, and an urgent review of red tape.