'THIS WEEK we published indicative budgets for the Scottish Rural Development Programme. This is a vital moment for our farmers and land owners, informing how EU CAP funding will be distributed until 2020.

The reality of the CAP funding received via the UK is well known. The most recent CAP deal left us at the bottom of the EU CAP funding table, with £160 million which rightfully belongs to Scotland’s farmers not being passed on. I raised this with the new UK Agriculture Secretary Mr Gove and with his predecessor. Each promised to consider it and respond. Neither has responded yet.

This shortfall, when added to the punishing ongoing programme of austerity imposed on Scotland by the UK Government, imposes severe constraints on our available budget. Despite this we have put forward a package offering Scotland the best return on our investment.

It is therefore vital that we recognise where our investment can deliver more and where we can work within available budgets to access funding within schemes experiencing low take-up, redistributing it to ensure we are meeting demand in areas where it exceeds supply.

For example, we will maintain schemes to support new entrants to farming. These increase opportunities for young people to start a career in farming and are vital for the long term health of the industry, yet they are oversubscribed.

To further ensure the sustainability of our farming sector, we are backing our Climate Change Plan by ensuring support continues to be available under the Agri-Environment-Climate Scheme and the Forestry Grant Scheme, which are designed to build a more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural sector.

Both these schemes are hugely important elements in our drive to diversify land, tackle climate change, manage flood risk and protect our iconic species and habitats for future generations.

Although tough decisions have to be made, I want to give Scotland’s rural sector as much certainty for the future as possible, including from the adverse effects of Brexit.

That is why I am continuing to press for Scotland to remain within the single market and for protection for the free movement of EU citizens in the UK, both of which are vital for the ongoing stability and success of our rural economy.

Over and above all, it is my firm and clear commitment to continue to press the UK Government to pass on the additional £160 million that is being withheld from Scottish Farmers from the overall £190 million convergence uplift, which would enable us to continue to fund vital support need for the rural economy.

We have worked with stakeholders to reach this point and we will continue to work until we’re certain that we are delivering the most effective return on our investment.'