The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2009

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2009 and come into force on 18th December 2009.

Amendment of the Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2008

2.  The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2008(1) are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 9.

Amendment to regulation 2

3.  In regulation 2 (interpretation) in the definition “area related option” for “77” substitute “78”.

Amendment to regulation 9

4.  In regulation 9 (undertakings)—

(a) in paragraph (6) for “either or both” substitute “any of”; and

(b) in paragraph (6) after “numbered 61” insert “or the controlled livestock grazing of woodland option numbered 78”.

Amendment to Schedule 1

5.  In Schedule 1 (interpretation of schedules) after the definition of “SAP” insert ““semi-natural native woodland” means an area of land where semi-natural native trees are growing and whose canopy, when mature, will cover at least 20% of the area;”.

Amendment to Schedule 2

6.  In Schedule 2 (rural priorities options), Part 1 (option, activities and eligibility conditions and rates of payment)—

(a) in option 2 (setting up of young farmers)—

(i) in column 2 in paragraph (2) for “0.5” substitute “0.25”;

(ii) for the entry in column 3 substitute—

“Support up to a maximum of £47,945 (that is up to £27,397 interest rate relief plus an establishment grant equal to 75% of the interest rate relief awarded) for businesses with an agricultural standard labour requirement of a least 0.5 full time equivalent.

Support up to a maximum of £28,767 (that is, up to £16,438 interest rate relief plus an establishment grant equal to 75% of the interest relief awarded) for businesses with an agricultural standard labour requirement of between 0.25 and under 0.5 full time.

For the interest rate subsidy, payment will be made annually in arrears over a maximum period of 5 years. The interest rate for which subsidy is payable will be capped at 3.5% above the Bank of England Base Rate.

The establishment grant will be payable in one instalment;”;

(b) in option 62 (woodland improvement grants) in column 3 after “Table D in Part 2” insert “and up to 100% of the actual cost capital items listed in Table E in Part 2”.

7.  In Schedule 2, at the end of the table in Part 1 (option, activities and eligibility conditions and rates of payment), insert the entry for the option set out in columns 1, 2 and 3, of Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

8.  In Schedule 2, in Part 2, at the end of Table D(2) (standard costs for forestry operations/capital items) insert the entries set out in Columns 1 and 2 of Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

9.  In Schedule 2, in Part 2, after Table D add Table E as set out in Schedule 3 to these Regulations.

RICHARD LOCHHEAD

A member of the Scottish Executive

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

24th November 2009