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Green light for farm aid payments Green light for farm aid payments
(10 minutes later)
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.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.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. 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.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.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.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.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."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.
"We pressed hard for this and managed to persuade them of our case. This should allow us to make payments within the next week or so.""We pressed hard for this and managed to persuade them of our case. This should allow us to make payments within the next week or so."