Scottish Government Debate: The Impact of the UK Government’s Budget on Scotland’s Rural Economy

Mairi Gougeon S6M-15508 That the Parliament is disappointed that the Chancellor of the Exchequer chose not to work with the Scottish Government before her Budget on 30 October 2024, nor to consult with farmers, crofters and other rural stakeholders about the Budget's effects on Scotland’s rural economy, including breaking the vital link between funding for Scotland's farmers and its land mass, and the changes to agricultural property relief, which will affect succession planning in farms throughout Scotland; is concerned at the apparent failure of the UK Government to fully assess the impacts of those budget changes on Scotland’s rural economy or to publish any such assessments, and calls on the UK Government to urgently do so. Jamie Halcro Johnston S6M-15508.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-15508 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (The Impact of the UK Government’s Budget on Scotland’s Rural Economy), insert at end “; recognises that ring-fenced agriculture funding has been delivered by previous UK administrations for over 50 years; urges both the UK and Scottish governments to work together to ensure certainty for Scotland’s farmers, crofters and rural stakeholders by delivering multi-year ring-fenced funding for agriculture, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that all agriculture funding is allocated to the sector and not diverted for use in other portfolio areas.” Colin Smyth S6M-15508.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-15508 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (The Impact of the UK Government’s Budget on Scotland’s Rural Economy), leave out from “is disappointed” to end and insert “welcomes the increase to the Scottish devolved budget of £1.5 billion in 2024-25 and £3.4 billion next year, which will deliver the highest ever devolved budget settlement of £47.7 billion in 2025-26 as a result of the UK Government’s Budget; agrees that the Scottish Government should use the record devolved settlement in the forthcoming Scottish Budget to ensure fair funding to Scotland’s farmers and crofters to support food security, sustainable farming and environmental restoration, and to invest in Scotland’s public services and infrastructure, recognising the long-term challenges facing rural and island communities in housing, public transport, including ferries, education, health and social care, poverty and depopulation, and further agrees that restoring public finances is vital to provide certainty and security of funding for Scotland’s farmers and crofters and to support Scotland’s rural and island communities.”