Supporting Scottish Agriculture 2025-07-09
2025-07-09
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Farmers in Scotland feel let down by the Government's disregard for agriculture, with Labour looking the other way as the Scottish Government delivered real-terms cuts to the agriculture budget. The Scottish Conservatives have a clear multi-year plan supported by farmers.
Like farmers in my constituency of Chester South and Eddisbury, farmers in Scotland feel let down by this Government’s disregard for agriculture and the countryside. We have seen Labour look the other way as the Scottish Government have delivered real-terms cuts to the agriculture budget. The Scottish Conservatives have set out a clear, multi-year plan to give farmers the certainty they need. Will the Secretary of State urge the First Minister to back that plan, which has strong support from the farming community, and help reverse the damage done to Scottish agriculture and our food security?
The Scottish Government have been given a record settlement in the devolution era, and it is for the devolved Governments to allocate their funding in devolved areas as they see fit. They are accountable to their own legislatures and, indeed, the Scottish public. That is a key principle of devolution, and this Labour Government will respect it.
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Assessment & feedback
The multi-year plan for farmers was not directly addressed; instead, the focus was on respecting devolution principles.
Underlying Issue Avoided
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Conservatives pointed out that changes to farming reliefs would damage jobs in rural Scotland. The Scotland Office conducted a roundtable with agriculture figures.
We Conservatives were vilified when we pointed out that the vindictive changes to farming reliefs were going to damage jobs in rural Scotland. The Scotland Office conducted its own roundtable with agriculture figures. Will the Minister share the results of that with the House, the Scottish Government and, crucially, whoever the Deputy Prime Minister decides will be the next Chancellor of the Exchequer?
I would be delighted to report back to the House and Scotland’s rural communities, including my own in Midlothian, about the outcomes of the farming roundtable. We heard directly from stakeholders that they want support and, crucially, for the two Governments to work together, which is exactly why we had the Scottish Government around the table.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific results of the roundtable were not provided; instead, general outcomes are mentioned.
Underlying Issue Avoided
Response accuracy