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Draft Budget - what it means for rural affairs and environment
17/09/2009
Sustainable, profitable businesses and thriving communities are at the heart of the draft rural affairs and environment budget.
Despite the real-terms cuts in the Scottish Government's budget, the draft budget for 2010-11 seeks to ensure continued economic growth in rural and coastal Scotland.
Future spending priorities for the rural affairs and environment portfolio include:
- Maintaining commitment to the Scotland Rural Development Programme which delivers support for agri-environment schemes
- An additional £4.5 million for farmers in fragile rural areas
- Protected spend to promote innovation and profitability in the fishing and aquaculture industries and deliver marine policies
- Increased investment of £7.9 million in planned research spend to help fund a major new facility for the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health
- Extra spend of £700,000 in the Scottish food industry - a major economic success story
- Additional support for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said:
"Rural Scotland supports families, communities and jobs and delivers the nation's food. This draft budget will support our rural economy and help the environment in a number of ways.
"Examples of investment include growing the food and drink sector, supporting new entrants into farming, investing in forest recreation facilities and increasing the competitiveness of our fishing and aquaculture industries."
As a result of the UK Government cuts, the overall planned portfolio spend has been reduced by £8 million overall. This includes a £3.2 million reduction in spending on private water supplies, due to decreased demand, and a £2.7 million reduction in the budgets of some Scottish Government Directorates and NDPBs, which are expected to be found from efficiency savings.