Carmichael questions end to Scottish agriculture ringfence in Budget

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today questioned the decision to remove ringfence protections for the Scottish agriculture budget by the UK Treasury. Speaking in a debate on the implications of the Autumn Budget on Scotland, led by Labour MP Gregor Poynton, Mr Carmichael questioned the rationale given the UK-wide impact and the lack of support from farmers. The ringfence previously gave protection to Scottish farm budgets from cuts which might otherwise have been imposed by the Scottish government.

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Speaking in Parliament, Mr Carmichael said:

“One other thing that the Budget did was it removed the ringfence around agricultural support payments. Surely an intervention as significant as that in the operation of a UK-wide market is something that should be done on a UK-wide basis.

“I just don’t understand the rationale for the Treasury decision – can he explain it to me?”

Responding, Labour MP Gregor Poynton said:

“Not all decisions in this Budget were easy. We had been left a horrible economic inheritance from the Tories. We made decisions to tackle that and to clear up the mess that they had made.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“We all know that the Conservatives left a mess of the country’s finances but that does not get to the bottom of why the ringfence was removed for Scottish agriculture. Scottish farmers did not want this and yet someone in either the UK or Scottish government clearly thought that it was a good idea. 

“The ringfence was no bar to the Scottish government topping up the agriculture budget if they so wished. We have the right to ask why it was determined that they should get the power to cut the budget instead.”