Farming cash assurance welcomed

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Farmers have welcomed assurances that the Scottish Government will back direct cash support for agriculture.

It came after Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said UK Government calls to reduce EU subsidy ignored special Scottish circumstances.

He used the Oxford Farming Conference - one of the industry's most high-profile events - to call for increased agriculture powers for Scotland.

Mr Lochhead's call won the support of the National Farmers' Union.

But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it wanted a competitive farming sector which did not rely on subsidies.

The UK wants an internationally competitive farming sector which is not dependent on public subsidy Defra spokesman

Mr Lochhead told the conference that being able to produce food needed infrastructure and a properly-skilled workforce.

He said the Scottish Government would maintain food production as the priority for farmers, while giving an assurance that direct financial support would continue.

The minister added: "Given the national importance of agriculture, public support for farming is wholly justified and will be essential in the years ahead, especially given the unique challenges faced by Scottish farmers.

"The Treasury-driven Defra vision for agriculture that calls for a quick end to subsidies and that UK ministers are attempting to sell to the EU is not Scotland's vision as it ignores Scotland's unique circumstances."

A Defra spokesman said the department would continue to press for benefits, such as environmental services, which the market would not otherwise deliver.

The spokesman added: "The UK has always maintained that it wants a profitable, internationally competitive farming sector which is not dependent on public subsidy, but instead is free to reap benefits from the market as well as being rewarded for providing public benefits not yet recognised by the market."