Moray MP Douglas Ross has said that the SNP’s long-awaited consultation on an Agriculture Bill represents a “huge missed opportunity.”
Douglas’ call comes after the SNP published the consultation on the proposed bill, encouraging farmers and the wider agricultural sector to share their views on the proposals.
However, Douglas says that farmers in Moray will feel let down by the consultation document having already waited a number of years for it to appear.
Douglas says the SNP-Green Government have failed to give clarification over future funding for farmers and that they are still failing to make the most of opportunities to release Moray farmers from the shackles of the EU’s failed Common Agricultural Policy.
He is encouraging the agricultural sector in Moray to make their feelings known on the consultation and says he will carefully scrutinise the Bill as it goes through Parliament to ensure that it meets the unique needs of farmers in Moray and across Scotland.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Farmers and the wider agriculture sector in Moray have been waiting for far too long for this consultation to begin, yet now it is here it represents a huge missed opportunity.
“Yet again the SNP Government are letting our hardworking farmers down with the lack of clarification and detail in this consultation. That simply isn’t good enough given the challenges the agricultural sector are facing right now and the detail they are crying out for when it comes to future policy.
“Our agricultural industry has gone above and beyond during the pandemic and are continuing to do so in the face of rising costs, but they need ministers who are on their side. This consultation shows that is simply not the case.
“The SNP-Green Government remain determined to want to be tied to the shackles of the EU’s failed policies rather than showing flexibility and developing a system fit to meet the unique needs of farmers in Moray and across our rural communities.
“I’d encourage everyone with an interest in this Bill in Moray to make their views known as loudly as possible. Alongside them I am committed to ensuring that this bill will deliver the future policies that support our agricultural sector in the right way possible and that detail is delivered by SNP ministers as a matter of urgency.”