McArthur calls for Agriculture Bill road trip to reach Orkney

Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur, has called on the Scottish Government to bring their series of Agricultural Bill consultation events to Orkney.

In March, the Scottish Government published the Vision for Agriculture which outlines Scotland's future agricultural policy following the UK's exit from the EU. The forthcoming Agriculture Bill is expected to deliver the new framework to support farmers and crofters.

To accompany the launch the Bill's public consultation last month, the Scottish Government has announced a series of public engagement events across the country. However, Orkney's MSP has called out the "wholly unjustified" exclusion of Orkney as part of the planned 'road trip'.

Ahead of the events beginning in Inverness tomorrow (Wednesday), Mr McArthur has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, calling for a session to be held in Orkney before the consultation closes next month.

Commenting, Mr McArthur said:

"Orkney's agricultural sector is a bedrock for the local economy, enjoying a world-renowned reputation for quality and high prominence within the national sector as a whole.

"It is, therefore, wholly unjustified for the Scottish Government to have excluded Orkney from their series of consultative events on the new Agriculture Bill. At a time of immense challenges for the industry, it is simply not reasonable to expect farmers in Orkney to make a round trip of over 200-miles to Inverness in order to take part in person in this vitally important process.

"The new Agriculture Bill must take proper account of the different circumstances and approaches to agriculture across the country, in particular the unique needs of island communities. To fulfil that ambition, however, farmers must be given an equal opportunity to have their say. I hope the Cabinet Secretary will rethink her plans and ensure Orkney is included in the road trip of events over the coming weeks."