THE Scottish Government have confirmed they will not be following Westminster in providing focused support for small abattoirs.

However they are bringing forward a Small Producers Pilot programme to deliver the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture, Scottish Government’s Good Food Nation ambitions and Local Food strategy. The news follows Defra farming minister Mark Spencer’s announcement that Westminster is rolling out funding to promote smaller and rural abattoirs.

The move to help English abattoirs was welcomed by campaigners at the Sustainable Food Trust as well as farmers and meat wholesalers. There has been a huge decline in small abattoirs in recent years, with the most recent estimates showing only 49 remain in England, Wales and Scotland. If closures continued at the current rate, none would be operating by 2030.

When the Scottish Farmer approach the Scottish Government for an update on the situation north of the boarder a spokesperson said: “We understand that details of UK Government’s proposed scheme will not be announced until later this year. Abattoirs in Scotland have previously benefited from support through the Scottish Government’s Food Processing Marketing and Cooperation Grant Scheme (FPMC).

“While not currently running due to budgetary pressures, the scheme is being reviewed with a view to simplifying and streamlining the processes.

“In the meantime we remain committed to the creation of more localised food supply chains including better links with local abattoirs and the upskilling of individual small producers to grow their businesses.

“We will also bring forward a Small Producers Pilot to support businesses to contribute to delivering the Scottish Government’s Vision for Agriculture, Scottish Government’s Good Food Nation ambitions and Local Food strategy.”

Chairman of the Mull abattoir, Flora Corbett, said: “It is good news that the Scottish Government sees the need to protect small abattoirs and we would be keen to be involved in a pilot scheme to support our business.

“The FPMC is of no good to our small, fragile business when 60% of the cost has to be found by ourselves - for a business that is there as a benefit to the community and exists on a fairly hand to mouth basis grants of this type are of no help.

“We would like to see more subsidy style payments which are non competitive because without these small abattoirs there is no localised food chain.”