McArthur secures Agriculture Bill Consultation Event for Orkney

Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur, has secured a commitment from the Scottish Government that an event will now be held in Orkney as part of the nationwide consultation on the forthcoming Agriculture Bill.

Mr McArthur earlier criticised Orkney’s exclusion from the government's consultation 'road trip' and wrote to the Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, urging her to rethink this decision. In a letter to Orkney's MSP this afternoon, Ms Gougeon has confirmed "officials are currently organising an agriculture bill event on Orkney and further details will be announced shortly."

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. This will be delivered by the forthcoming Agriculture Bill which a public consultation was launched on last month, accompanied by a series of public engagement events across the country.

Responding, Mr McArthur said:

"I am grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for acting on the concerns I raised on behalf of the local farming community and agreeing to holding a consultation event in Orkney in relation to the forthcoming Agriculture Bill.

"Given that Orkney is one of the most farming-dependent communities in the country, it is essential that the views of the local sector are factored into a process that will shape the future of farming in Scotland. Policy and funding going forward must reflect the specific needs and circumstances of our islands.

"Details for the event are still to be finalised, but I hope it will provide an opportunity for Scottish Government officials to hear first-hand the concerns and expectations of Orkney’s farming sector. In turn, I would expect this to inform the detail of an Agriculture Bill that the Cabinet Secretary needs to bring forward in the near future."