HUME QUESTIONS MINISTER ON THREAT TO SRDP MONEY FOR DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

12.00.00am GMT Tue 16th Dec 2008

Jim Hume MSP, MSP for the South of Scotland, has today voiced his concerns about an SNP Leader’s comments in the Scottish Farmer that SRDP money should be redistributed from Dumfries and Galloway to parts of the West of Scotland.

The MSP has followed the issue up with Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead MSP, following Cllr McIntyre of Argyll and Bute Council’s comments in last week’s Scottish Farmer.

Jim Hume said:

“The current financial crisis is hitting all areas of Scotland including Dumfries and Galloway, and the Scottish Government should do all in its powers to help everyone, not just areas where the SNP are in power. There are many parts of the South of Scotland that have severely disadvantaged land with hills going up to over 2800 feet, high rainfall areas, poor infrastructure and distance from market, added to that are expenses of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, increased costs, decreased sales income, depressed grain prices and stock reductions.

“Cllr Macintyre also referred to budgets, and may I remind him that agriculture and rural development is fully devolved and the Scottish Government can easily fund measures they want to help in any areas of Scotland, but  Cllr Macintyre states that "there is going to be no new money available" for agriculture from the Scottish Government.

“Is the Cabinet Secretary using Cllr McIntyre as his mouthpiece? Is it now SNP policy to shift money from Dumfries and Galloway to areas North and West where SNP are stronger?”

ENDS