The Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has passed a vote on the legal instrument allowing SRDP, including the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS), payments to continue from 2020 to 2030.

The vote on The Rural Development (Continuation of Operation) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 passed despite Conservative members abstaining, who were seeking to reduce the 'backstop' date from 2030 to 2027.

Pushed forward by opposition MSP Rachael Hamilton, objections were raised over the six-year period the motion allows for the Scottish Government to devise a replacement for SRDP and LFASS. However, Farming Minister Jim Fairlie stressed that he is committed to delivering a replacement for SRDP schemes long before 2030, as part of broader rural support reform.

Rachael Hamilton MSPRachael Hamilton MSP The Minister argued that failing to pass the motion could create a 'cliff edge,' potentially halting payments to farmers and crofters. When challenged, however, Mr Fairlie admitted that payments could still be made, provided a legal instrument is passed at least 40 days before the end of January 2025.

The committee had invited evidence on the motion from the public and stakeholders, resulting in 18 responses from organisations and individuals. Many used the opportunity to emphasize the need for rebasing LFASS payments to focus on active farmers.

This was advocated by organisations such as Scottish Land and Estates and the Scottish Beef Association.

It was argued that under the current motion, the LFASS scheme could remain unchanged until 2030 if no replacement is implemented. This could lead to increasingly outdated payment calculations, failing to reflect current realities on the ground.

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In contrast, NFU Scotland, along with its LFA Committee, stated that it was not currently calling for LFASS rebasing. NFU Scotland had previously discussed the matter with the Scottish Government, and over a year ago, its LFA Committee sent a letter seeking further discussions.

The Scottish Government concluded that both government and industry efforts should focus on developing a replacement scheme for disadvantaged areas rather than making marginal changes to the current one. As a result, the LFA Committee agreed at its May 2024 meeting not to pursue rebasing at this time.

During the committee session, the Farming Minister emphasised that the motion is solely a legal instrument to allow payments to continue, and that LFASS rebasing and the development of a new scheme will not be affected by passing the motion.