If the expensive IT system installed by the Scottish Government to process European farming subsidies had been a tractor, it would have been returned to the dealer long ago with a demand for a full refund, a farmers' leader has claimed.
NFU Scotland’s President Andrew McCornick has questioned whether the Scottish Government is flogging a dead horse by sticking with its costly system installed at a cost of £180m to the public purse.
A year ago it emerged that only half of Scottish farmers and crofter had received European payments, three months after they were due, because of the new computer system. Previously payments were made by the end of December.
The system had been bought to process farming subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Reforms to the CAP system had seen the Single Farm Payment Scheme replaced by the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). It was estimated that £365 million was missing from the rural economy, because of the IT problems.
Mr McCornick said a year on there were still problems: "While the input side is working, it is what happens beyond that that is failing those that it is meant to serve.
"Some claimants are receiving a further 10 per cent of their Basic Payment and Greening support this week and while that money is welcome, it means the IT system is now delivering these payments in three stages, rather than the two stage process seen in 2016. That is a step backwards, not forwards."
He said he recognised the considerable amount of time, effort and money that had gone into making it work. "And I genuinely believe that Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing’s main priority is to get this sorted."
But he concluded: "I think Scottish Government must reflect on Audit Scotland’s most recent report on the CAP Futures programme which questions if the system will ever be fit for purpose and get proper guidance on whether or not they are flogging a dead horse."
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “I understand the NFUS President’s frustration at the current situation regarding the IT system for CAP payments. I am hearing it too from his members and other farmers and crofters. I have been keeping him and NFUS officials advised of developments to get their valuable input into what more we need to do and I can absolutely reassure all of Scotland’s farmers and crofters that fixing this issue remains my number one priority."
But he said "I am not sure that the solution rests with discontinuing the IT scheme. That would in all likelihood cause further delay and problems."
He said this week, farmers and crofters had begun to receive an additional 10 per cent of their entitlement to add to the 80 per cent most of them had already received through the loans the Scottish Government made available in November. He expected the vast majority of farmers and crofters would have received their 2016 basic payments by the end of June.
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