Mr Lochhead welcomed the news that the scheme could progress
|
Scottish sheep farmers have been told they will get a �19m funding package to cope with losses incurred during the recent foot-and-mouth outbreak.
The news follows a new ruling by the European Commission which had requested more information on the scheme.
Scottish Government officials said they would now be able to make the payments.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said the scheme could start when the European Commission published it on its website.
Last month, Mr Lochhead announced a �25m aid package to compensate farmers for the effects of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in England.
At �19m, the Scottish Ewes Scheme formed the largest part of that.
The minister had said the payments could not go ahead until the EC had officially published details of the scheme.
Following the EC's decision, Mr Lochhead said: "Our farmers and crofters have been very badly hit by a crisis not of their making, the outbreaks of foot and mouth in the south of England.
"We are pleased that the European Commission, once it had received the additional information requested from us, acted very quickly in agreeing to publish the scheme.
One-Minute World News
News services
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
Bookmark with:
What are these?