A FARMING couple from the North-east of Scotland has condemned the mechanics of the Basic Payment Scheme, and how confusing the system can be.

Michelle and Euan Greenlaw, of Milton Farm, Glenbuchat, Strathdon, claim they may have been left without any support payment until May next year, had they not ‘rattled the cage’ of the Scottish Government.

They recently split up their farm tenancy between themselves and Mr Greenlaw’s brother, after their partnership ended with the retiral of their father from an almost 30-year lease.

The split was amicable and Mr Greenlaw’s brother and his fiancée continue to rent the previous farm as their new business, while Michelle and Euan Greenlaw purchased Milton Farm in order to start their own business.

Although setting up a new farm was difficult, they managed to get that all important foot on the ladder, and both families applied for their Basic Payment Scheme loan.

Mr Greenlaw’s brother received a letter confirming he would receive his payment in due course, but Euan and Michelle heard nothing.

“I was so confused at first,” explained Mrs Greenlaw. “I couldn’t understand why Euan’s brother would be entitled to the loan, but not us and so I assumed it would have been an error.”

Mrs Greenlaw then contacted the couple’s local Rural Payments agency, at Inverurie, and was told that they were not entitled to the loan, due to them being a newly formed business.

Mrs Greenlaw continued: “It seemed crazy that we couldn’t get the loan due to us having a new business, especially since Euan’s brother had been offered a 90% loan.”

With that information, Mrs Greenlaw then contacted CabSec for the Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing directly by e-mail to explain her situation.

“I sent that e-mail in the evening and by the next morning, the Rural Payments Agency, Edinburgh, was on the phone to say the information I had been told was incorrect and that we would receive a loan payment.”

However, Mrs Greenlaw was also informed that the couple’s case was now considered to be ‘complicated’ because their application would have to be submitted after the deadline and due to the split of entitlements between the two brothers.

“We’ve been told that a letter offering us a loan will now be out within the next month, which is frustrating but we are just pleased that we are going to get it,” she explained.

In response to the Greenlaws’ claims, a spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “As soon as the issue with the Greenlaw family was flagged up, it was dealt with right away and it would have been dealt with regardless of how it was brought to our attention.

“Mr Ewing was not responsible for us resolving this issue – it would have been dealt with regardless of whether he had been informed or not.

“With regards to the case being referred to as ‘complicated’, this is because of the split of entitlements between the two brothers and has nothing to do with the delay in the application. The issue was dealt with as soon as possible.”