Ewing on CAP payments system: “We are sorry. We are fixing it.”

In a statement to Scottish Parliament yesterday Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said that the government is doing everything possible to get remaining farm payments out before the end of this month.

He pledged to make resolving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payment problems his first and foremost priority.

Looking ahead, Mr Ewing also said one of his main objectives was to see 2016 payments on a proper footing with no repeat of the problems faced in 2015-16. He offered an apology on behalf of the Scottish Government, saying: “We are sorry. We are fixing it.”

Mr Ewing said: “From day one in the job and for the foreseeable future the resolution of the CAP payments issues are my top priority. I want to assure all those in rural communities that I will devote all necessary time and attention to that task. It is my number one priority.”