Scottish Government ask for extension to farming payments deadline

The Scottish Government have requested an extension to their deadline to make sure payments have reached farmers.

On Friday the European Commission confirmed the request had been made, to extend the government’s deadline from June 30 until October 15.

This is the second consecutive year that the Scottish Government has asked for an extension to the deadline.

A Scottish Government spokesman said the government has made clear its determination to make the majority of 2016 Pillar One payments by the end of the payment period and everything is being done to ensure this.

The spokesman added: “Officials have written to DG Agriculture and Rural Development in the European Commission to seek their agreement to extend the payment deadline – if necessary – from 30 June to 15 October for Pillar 1 payments, on the grounds of the acutely challenging delivery and implementation issues we face in Scotland. This is simple prudence given the timescales involved.”

The European Commission said the request will be considered within the terms of the legislation. In the meantime, the Commission has encouraged the Scottish authorities to accelerate payments before the June 30 deadline.