Sir - With regard to the Pack inquiry’s short-term recommendations, we strongly welcome the recognition of the disadvantages faced by new entrants post 2004. The inquiry has recommended that regulations be introduced to put new entrants post 2004 on an equal footing after 2013.

Unfortunately, this is a long time away, but the inquiry also recommends that favour be given to these new entrants when applying to the SRDP scheme, which would provide urgently needed financial help to struggling non funded farm businesses.
We welcome steps being suggested to tighten up on the ever-leaking funds from Scottish agriculture to the inactive farmers. This is vitally important if we are to justify subsidised farming to the tax payer.
The current SFP system will inevitably change in the future, and the inquiry has had the forward sightedness to recommend that suitable computer systems be made available to RPID as soon as possible to ensure a smooth and swift changeover.
The present SFP scheme has led to the much talked about decline in Scottish livestock numbers. The only way to reverse the trend is to stop the current system and redirect money from those who don’t produce, to those who wish to do so.
 

New Entrants
Group Policy
Committee