McArthur calls for inquiry following latest CAP “blunder”

The Scottish Government has confirmed that, due to an administrative error, a number of farm businesses in Scotland have been overpaid through their 2016 basic payment loans.

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has called this latest mistake in the ongoing CAP payments debacle “unacceptable” and has said a full inquiry must be launched.

A Scottish Government spokesperson explained the “administrative error” this week, saying it has resulted in an overpayment of the 2016 basic payment loan to 166 businesses out of more than 12,500 applications.

The spokesman said: “We have contacted the very small number of farmers affected to let them know and we have asked for this money to be re-paid. Invoices will be issued for the repayment.”

“As this is an administrative error no interest will be charged. Steps have been taken to rectify the cause of this error, which is not related to the IT system, and minimise the risk of it happening again.”

Responding Mr McArthur said: “Over the last year, farmers and crofters in Orkney, as well as the wider supply chain, have experienced unacceptable financial problems as a result of Scottish Government payment delays.

“Now, instead of getting it together, the Agriculture Minister has had to admit yet another blunder. It is scarcely credible that this government has managed to duplicate payments to the tune of £1.35 million. As a consequence, farmers and crofters face the prospect of repayment bills in the run up to Christmas.

“Scottish Ministers must be held to account for this latest shambles, and that starts with a full inquiry into what has gone wrong with CAP payments over recent months.”