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Scottish Government should use EU powers to stop 'slipper brigade' - Lyon
May 13, 2010 2:25 PM
George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, has asked the Scottish Government to clarify whether they intend to use the powers granted to them by EU regulations to stop SFP payments to the so-called 'slipper brigade'.
It has emerged that since 1st January 2010 the Scottish Government has had the power to stop individual farmers receiving SFP if their agricultural activities form only an insignificant part of their overall economic activities or whose principal business or company objectives do not consist of exercising an agricultural activity.
The regulation allows for SFP entitlements to be taken away from individual farmers who do not meet the criteria with the money instead moving into the national reserve. It would be for the Scottish Government to design the detailed activity rules of how such a scheme would work.
Brian Pack has estimated that payments to non-active farmers could amount to approximately £30million per year.
Commenting, George Lyon MEP said:
"These regulations give the Scottish Government wide ranging powers to deal with the 'slipper brigade'.
"I understand that the Minister was briefed by the Commission on the potential use of these powers four weeks ago and told that they could be the answer to continuing questions over activity.
"Given that the Pack report has put activity front and centre of any reforms to the system, it is strange that the Scottish Government has not made a formal announcement.
"I will be writing to Richard Lochhead urging him to use the powers at his disposal to tackle the slipper brigade - action which I am sure the whole industry would support."
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