2008 No. 100
The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2008
Made
Laid before the Scottish Parliament
Coming into force
The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of, and paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to, the European Communities Act 1972 M1 and all other powers enabling them to do so.
The Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in that section and it appears to the Scottish Ministers that it is expedient for the reference to Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91M2 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs and the reference to Article 4 and Annex III to Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers M3to be construed as a reference to that first mentioned Regulation, and to said Article and Annex, as amended from time to time.
O.J. No. L 198, 22.07.1991, p1. The last amending instrument at the making of these Regulations was Commission Regulation (EC) No. 123/2003, O.J. No. L 38, 13.02.2003, p.3. Recent amendments and a consolidated version are available online from the Department of Environment and Rural Affairs at www.defra.gov.uk/farm/organic/standards.
O.J. No. L 270, 21.10.2003, p.1 as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 146/2008 (O.J. No. L 46, 21.02.2008, p.1).
Citation, commencement and extent1
1
These Regulations may be cited as the Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 and come into force on 29th March 2008.
2
These Regulations extend to Scotland only.
Interpretation2
1
In these Regulations–
“1911 Act” means the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 1911 M4;
“1991 Act” means the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 1991 M5;
“1993 Act” means the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 M6;
“2003 Act” means the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003 M7;
“activities” means the activities referred to in regulation 9(1) and columns 2 and 3 of Schedule 2, and “activity” is construed accordingly;
“applicant” means a person who has submitted an application for aid pursuant to regulation 3, the result of which is still pending;
“application for aid” means an application for aid under these Regulations, and “application” is construed accordingly;
“approved proposal” means a proposal for the receipt of aid which the Scottish Ministers have approved under these Regulations for the payment of aid, and “approve” and “approval” are construed accordingly;
F4“area related options” means those rural priorities options numbered 15 to 57, 60 and 61 and 74 to F6678 in Schedule 2;
“authorised person” means a person who is authorised by the Scottish Ministers under regulation 14, either generally or specifically, to act in relation to matters arising under these Regulations;
“beneficiary” means–
- a
a person whose application for aid has been approved by the Scottish Ministers; or
- b
a person who takes on an undertaking on a change of occupation as provided in regulation 13;
- a
“capital items” means the capital items referred to in regulation 9 and column 1 of Schedule 3 and any specific capital items referred to in any rural priorities options F98... and “capital item” is construed accordingly;
“Commission Regulation 796/2004” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 796/2004 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of cross compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system provided for in F49...F50Council Regulation 73/2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers M8;
“Commission Regulation 1974/2006” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1974/2006, as amended by Commission Regulations (EC) No. 434/2007M9 and (EC) 1236/2007M10 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) M11;
“Commission Regulation 1975/2006” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1975/2006M12 as corrected by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1396/2007M13 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005, as regards the implementation of control procedures as well as cross compliance in respect of rural development support measures;
“compliance requirements” means the compliance requirements specified in regulation 9(5);
F51. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Council Regulation 1698/2005” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005M14, as amended by Council Regulations (EC) No. 1944/2006M15 and (EC) No. 2012/2006M16 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD);
F52“Council Regulation 73/2009” means Council Regulation (EC) 73/2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, amending Regulations (EC) No. 1290/2005, (EC) No. 247/2006, (EC) No. 378/2007 and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003
“Crofters Commission” means the Crofters Commission established under section 1 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1955 M17;
“eligible land” means land which is eligible in accordance with regulation 7 as read with any relevant specific requirements under the particular rural priorities options;
“grazings committee” means a committee appointed under section 47(1) or (3) of the 1993 Act and includes a grazing constable;
“holding” means all the production units managed by a farmer that are situated within Scotland;
“IACS Regulations” means the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Integrated Administration and Control System) Regulations 2005 M18;
“IACS year” has the meaning given to it in regulation 2(1) of the IACS Regulations;
“landlord” means–
- a
in the case of an agricultural lease constituting a 1991 Act tenancy within the meaning of the 2003 Act, the landlord within the meaning of section 85 of the 1991 Act;
- b
in the case of a lease constituting a limited duration tenancy or short limited duration tenancy under the 2003 Act, the landlord within the meaning of section 93 of that Act;
- c
in the case of a croft within the meaning of the 1993 Act, the landlord within the meaning of section 61(1) of that Act;
- d
in the case of a holding within the meaning of the 1911 Act to which the 1991 Act does not apply, the same as it means in the 1911 Act,
and, where appropriate, includes a head tenant;
- a
“programme guidance” means the guidance published by the Scottish Ministers from time to time under regulation 21 M19;
“regional priorities” means those descriptions of those national policy outcomes which have been identified as regionally important as outlined in the programme guidance;
“relevant period” means the period of the undertaking as determined under regulation 9(2) and the relevant period may be different for each different undertaking;
“rural priorities options” means the options set out in Schedule 2;
“single application” has the meaning given to it in Article 2(11) of Commission Regulation 796/2004;
“tenant” means–
- a
in the case of an agricultural lease constituting a 1991 Act tenancy within the meaning of the 2003 Act, the tenant within the meaning of section 85 of the 1991 Act;
- b
in the case of a lease constituting a limited duration tenancy or short limited duration tenancy under the 2003 Act, the tenant within the meaning of section 93 of that Act;
- c
in the case of a croft within the meaning of the 1993 Act, the crofter within the meaning of section 3(3) of that Act;
- d
in the case of a holding within the meaning of the 1911 Act to which the 1991 Act does not apply, the landholder within the meaning of section 2(2) of the 1911 Act,
and, where appropriate, includes a sub tenant; and
- a
“undertaking” means an undertaking or undertakings in writing given by a beneficiary in accordance with regulation 9.
2
A reference in these Regulations to anything done in writing or produced in written form includes a reference to an electronic communication, as defined in section 15 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 M20 which has been recorded and is consequently capable of being reproduced.
3
Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in these Regulations to a numbered regulation or numbered Schedule will be construed as a reference to the regulation or Schedule so numbered in these Regulations.
4
Any reference in these Regulations to a numbered paragraph, shall be construed as a reference to the paragraph so numbered in the regulation or Schedule in which the reference occurs.
5
Words and phrases used in Schedules 2 to 4 and not defined in paragraph (1) or in the particular Schedule will be construed in accordance with Schedule 1.
Application for aid3
1
Subject to paragraph (5), an application for aid must be submitted in writing for approval to such authority and in such form and manner as the Scottish Ministers may reasonably require.
2
An application for aid by a grazings committee must include–
a
the written consent of a majority of the crofters ordinarily resident in the township and sharing in the common grazing which is the subject of the proposal;
b
evidence that notice has been given in accordance with regulation 6(4); and
c
confirmation from the Crofters Commission that it has approved the proposal or, as the case may be, has received no representation under regulation 6(5).
3
The Scottish Ministers may at any time suspend the operation of the programme provided for by these Regulations and, while so suspended, no application for aid under paragraph (1) may be submitted to them.
4
An applicant may submit more than one application under this regulation.
5
The application for aid must include an undertaking.
6
Where such undertaking specifies activities under area related options, the applicant must be either–
a
the owner of the eligible land; and
i
in lawful actual occupation of that land; or
ii
have undertaken jointly with any tenant to assume the obligations under their activities or an undertaking (regulation 13 applying in the case where the tenant's tenancy has ended); or
b
the tenant of the eligible land who is in lawful actual occupation of that land–
i
under a lease which will run until the end of the relevant period of the undertaking;
ii
under a lease with security of tenure by virtue of any statutory provision until the end of that period; or
iii
in the case where neither (i) nor (ii) applies where the tenant has jointly with the landlord given the undertaking until the end of that period (in which case regulation 13 shall apply);
7
Where there is more than one relevant period in relation to an undertaking or undertakings the longer of the relevant periods is deemed to be the relevant period for the purposes of paragraph (6).
8
An applicant must provide any information and evidence the Scottish Ministers reasonably require in order to consider the application.
Payment of aid4
1
Subject to the provisions of these Regulations, the Scottish Ministers may make payment of aid to a beneficiary who has given an undertaking.
2
Where such undertaking includes activities or capital items under area related options, the Scottish Ministers may make payment of aid to a beneficiary who is the owner or tenant of the eligible land to which the undertaking relates and is in lawful occupation of that land or, in the case of an owner, has jointly with the tenant, given such undertaking.
3
Payment of aid shall be made subject to the condition that the beneficiary complies with the undertaking.
Outcome plansF995
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Crofters common grazings6
1
Subject to paragraph (4), a grazings committee may, with the consent of a majority of the crofters ordinarily resident in the township and sharing in the common grazing, submit an application for aid in relation to that common grazing.
2
Where an undertaking is given by a grazings committee, such undertaking must include an obligation upon the committee to bind their successors in office to the undertaking.
3
Subject to paragraph (4), payments of aid to a grazings committee must be made to the clerk of the grazings committee and the clerk shall–
a
divide the aid among the eligible crofters in such proportion as determined by the grazings committee; or
b
reimburse the aid accordingly.
4
Prior to submitting an application for aid a grazings committee must give notice of their intention to do so and of their proposed division of the aid or reimbursement under paragraph (3), by serving notice in writing of the proposed application and the proposed division of aid or reimbursement on all crofters sharing in that common grazing.
5
Any such crofter as is mentioned in paragraph (4) may within one month of the date of the notice under that paragraph make representations in respect of the proposed application and the proposed division of aid or reimbursement to the Crofters Commission who may approve the proposed application and the proposed division of aid or reimbursement with or without modification, or reject them.
6
Where the Crofters Commission receives representations under paragraph (5) in respect of a proposed application the grazings committee will only be entitled to submit the proposed application, incorporating any modification made by the Crofters Commission, approved by the Crofters Commission under paragraph (5).
7
Where an undertaking is given by a grazings committee, the actings in relation to the relevant common grazing or part of the common grazing of any crofter with a share in that common grazing or part, and any breach of the undertaking by such a crofter, will be deemed to be the actings of, or a breach by, the grazings committee for the purposes of these Regulations.
Eligible land7
1
Where an undertaking includes activities and capital items under area related options, land is eligible to have such activities or capital items carried out on it if it is land in Scotland declared in the single application and–
a
the land is–
i
comprised in an agricultural parcel in accordance with F53Article 19 of Council Regulation 73/2009 and Article 12(1)(d) of Commission Regulation 796/2004 and given a unique identification number compatible with the identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in F54Article 17 of Council Regulation 73/2009; or
ii
approved for that purpose and given a unique identification number compatible with the identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in F56Article 17 of Council Regulation 73/2009 by the Scottish Ministers; and
b
compliant with any particular eligibility or site requirements specified in column 2 of Schedule 2 in relation to the particular activity under the relevant area related option.
2
In declaring the land in the application for aid under paragraph (1), the applicant must use the unique identification number for each reference parcel of land under or compatible with the identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in F55Article 17 of Council Regulation 73/2009 and Article 6 of Commission Regulation 796/2004 where that number exists at the date of the application.
Determination of applications for aid8
1
The Scottish Ministers may approve (in whole or in part) or may reject an application for aid and in determining whether an application should be so approved or rejected, they must have regard to–
a
the extent to which the application–
i
meets regional priorities; and
ii
is feasible and economically viable;
b
the aid likely to be required and how that value compares with other applications; and
c
the value for money which the application represents having regard to sub-paragraphs (a) and (b).
2
Approval of an application for aid may be subject to such conditions as the Scottish Ministers think fit.
3
The Scottish Ministers must notify the applicant in writing of their decision in respect of the application and notify the applicant whose application has been approved under this paragraph of any conditions relating to such approval which they have imposed under paragraph (2) above.
4
The Scottish Ministers may vary an approval of an application as they think fit including any conditions subject to which it was given.
5
Before varying an approval or conditions attached to an approval in accordance with paragraph (4), the Scottish Ministers must–
a
give to the beneficiary written notification of the variation or amendment proposed;
b
give the beneficiary an opportunity to make representations about the proposed variation within such time and in such form as the Scottish Ministers may require; and
c
consider any such representations.
6
Before approving an application, the Scottish Ministers may consult such persons as they consider appropriate.
Undertakings9
1
A beneficiary must give the Scottish Ministers an undertaking to carry out, or as the case may be, to carry out and maintain at least one of the activities set out in column 2 of Schedule 2 in accordance with the eligibility conditions and requirements set out in the paragraph which begins that Schedule and that column and, as the case may be, column 3 of that Schedule in relation to that activity unless an activity must be undertaken in conjunction with another activity under either the same or a different rural priorities option as set out in Schedule 2.
2
Each undertaking given must be for a period as determined by the Scottish Ministers (“the relevant period”) and in the case of an undertaking to carry out activities under area related options the relevant period must be not less than 5 years.
3
More than one relevant period may apply in relation to different undertakings or activities to be carried out or carried out and maintained in terms of an undertaking.
4
The date of commencement of each undertaking and such activity shall be determined by the Scottish Ministers.
5
Where an undertaking given under paragraph (1) specifies an activity or activities under any of the rural priorities options numbered 15 to 57 F5and 74 to 77 the beneficiary must also undertake, in relation to the whole of the beneficiary's holding, to comply with the following compliance requirements–
a
the statutory management requirements established by F57Article 5 of and Annex II to Council Regulation 73/2009 as amended from time to time;
b
the good agricultural and environmental conditions specified in regulation 4 of and the Schedule to the Common Agricultural Policy Schemes (Cross-Compliance) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 M21;
c
the historic environment condition specified in Part 1 of Schedule 4 to these Regulations;
d
the requirements applicable under the enactments specified in Part 2 of Schedule 4 to these Regulations.
6
Where an undertaking given under paragraph (1) specifies an activity or activities under F67any of the rural priorities options, the Woodland creation option numbered 60, or the Sustainable management of forests and woodlands option numbered 61 F68or the controlled livestock grazing of woodland option numbered 78 and no activity or activities under any of the rural priorities options numbered 15 to 57 F6and 74 to 77 are specified in such undertaking the beneficiary must also undertake, in relation to the whole of the beneficiary's holding to comply with the compliance requirements in paragraph (5)(a) and (b).
7
Where an undertaking given under paragraph (1) specifies an activity or activities under area related options the beneficiary may also undertake to carry out one or more of the capital items set out in column 1 of Schedule 3.
8
A beneficiary must give the Scottish Ministers any other such undertakings as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate for the purposes of these Regulations.
Restrictions on approval of applications and payment of aid10
1
The Scottish Ministers must not approve an application for aid in relation to any eligible land which is occupied by a tenant unless they are satisfied that the tenant has notified the landlord, and in the case of a sub tenant, the owner of the eligible land and the head tenant, of the intention of that tenant to submit an application for aid.
2
The Scottish Ministers must not pay aid–
a
if they are satisfied that the use of the land in accordance with the proposals contained in an application for aid would frustrate the purposes of any assistance previously given or to be given out of money provided by or under any statutory provision or by the European Community;
b
if they are satisfied that any payment under these Regulations would duplicate any assistance previously given or to be given out of money provided by or under any statutory provision or by the European Community;
c
where the beneficiary is excluded from support under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999M22 or Council Regulation 1698/2005 by application of a penalty consequent upon Articles 18, 23 or 31 of Commission Regulation 1975/2006.
3
For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), a sum duplicates such assistance if it is, or would be, paid for any of the same purposes.
Rates of payment for activities undertaken11
The amount of aid payable under regulation 4 shall be calculated with reference to–
a
the activity or activities undertaken, and the maximum rate of payment in respect of each activity described in column 2 of Schedule 2 shall be the rate shown opposite the entry for that activity in column 3 of that Schedule; and
b
where appropriate, the capital item or items undertaken, and the maximum rate of payment in respect of each capital item described in column 1 of Schedule 3 shall be the rate shown opposite the entry for that capital item in column 2 of that Schedule.
Claims and payment12
1
Payment of aid under regulation 4 shall be made only on receipt of a claim for payment made by the beneficiary in writing in such form and manner and at such time as the Scottish Ministers from time to time require.
2
The beneficiary must provide all particulars and information relating to such claim and copies of such documents and records relating thereto as the Scottish Ministers may reasonably require.
3
The Scottish Ministers may make payments of aid by lump sums or instalments and in particular payment of aid shall be made–
a
in the case of a payment relating to an activity under area related options F7(except those area related options numbered 74 to 77) included in an undertaking, by annual payments paid in arrears, and the claim for such payment must–
i
be submitted in accordance with the deadline for single applications as specified in regulation 6 of the IACS Regulations for the IACS year which begins in the calendar year in which the particular undertaking commences;
ii
contain the information specified in Article 12 of Commission Regulation 796/2004 in relation to single applications; and
iii
specify the unique identification number for each reference parcel of land under or compatible with the identification system for agricultural parcels referred to in F58Article 17 of Council Regulation 73/2009 and Article 6 of Commission Regulation 796/2004; and
b
in the case of a payment relating to a capital item, excluding those capital items set out in Schedule 3, included in an undertaking, upon completion of the work and following production of evidence that the amount of eligible expenditure for which aid is claimed has been defrayed, including details of any discount thereon received.
4
Paragraph (3)(a) applies to both agricultural and non-agricultural land.
5
Payment as provided in paragraph (1) shall be made only where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that–
a
the eligibility conditions and requirements set out in the paragraph which begins Schedule 2 and in column 2 of that Schedule and, as the case may be, column 3 of that Schedule, in relation to that activity have been met; and
b
where an undertaking specifies an activity or activities under an area related option the relevant compliance requirements as undertaken in terms of regulation 9(5) have been complied with.
6
The provisions of these Regulations are, insofar as the aid claimed includes aid under Council Regulation 1698/2005, subject to Article 5 of Council Regulation 1698/2005 and Article 2 and paragraphs 5 and 6 of Article 27 of Commission Regulation 1974/2006.
Change of occupation of land13
1
Where during the relevant period of an undertaking, there is a change of occupation of all or any part of the land to which that undertaking relates, subject to the provisions of this regulation, the Scottish Ministers shall accept an undertaking from the new occupier.
2
Where such a change of occupation occurs the former occupier (or, if that occupier has died, the occupier's executors) must within 3 months notify the Scottish Ministers in writing of the change of occupation, and must supply to the Scottish Ministers such information relating to that change in such form and within such period as the Scottish Ministers may determine.
3
A new occupier of all or any part of the land who wishes to take on the undertaking, or a landlord who has undertaken jointly with the tenant, to assume any undertaking and who becomes a new occupier when the tenancy ends, must furnish the Scottish Ministers with such information in such form and within such period following the change of occupation as the Scottish Ministers may determine.
4
A new occupier of all or any part of the land may take on the undertaking where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that–
a
the former occupier had complied with the undertaking to the date of the change of occupation; and
b
the new occupier is the lawful occupier of the land and has since the date of the change of occupation complied with the undertaking.
5
A new occupier of all or any part of the land or, as the case may be, the former occupier of all or any part of the land may take on the undertaking insofar as it extends to that part of the land which that person occupies, or as the case may be continues to occupy, where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that–
a
such new occupier or, as the case may be, such former occupier of all of the land, is the lawful occupier of the part of the land which that person occupies and has since the date of change of occupation complied or, as the case may be, continued to comply with the undertaking insofar as it extends to the part of the land which that person occupies; and
b
it is reasonable for the occupier to do so having regard to the activities included in the undertaking and the part of the land which is occupied by the new occupier or, as the case may be, continues to be occupied by the former occupier of all the land.
6
Where an undertaking specifies activities under area related options and where, during the period of an undertaking, an occupier increases the area of their landholding the occupier must comply with the relevant compliance requirements as regards the increased area of landholding and, if the occupier wishes the undertaking to also apply to the increased area of landholding, the occupier must submit to the Scottish Ministers an application for aid in accordance with regulation 3.
7
Where occupation of the land is divided, the Scottish Ministers shall determine–
a
the extent to which the activities included in the undertaking relate to any part of the land occupied by a new occupier or, as the case may be, the former occupier of all the land; and
b
the proportion, if any, of any payments which would be payable under paragraph (8) for the remainder of the period of the undertaking in respect of that part of the land.
8
Where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied as specified in paragraph (4), they shall, subject to regulation 4, make payments for the remainder of the period of the undertaking to the new occupier of the land who has taken on the undertaking.
9
Where the Scottish Ministers are satisfied as to the matters specified in paragraph (5), they shall, subject to regulation 4, make payments of such proportion, if any, as they have determined under paragraph (7) are due for the remainder of the period of the undertaking to the new occupier or, as the case may be, former occupier of all the land who has taken on the undertaking.
10
Where within 3 months from the date of change of occupation the undertaking has not been taken on in accordance with paragraph (4) or, as the case may be, paragraph (5), the Scottish Ministers may–
a
withhold the whole or any part of any payment under these Regulations due to the former occupier in respect of the undertaking; and
b
recover from the former occupier, or make a claim in the former occupier's executry, for the whole or any part of any payment made under these Regulations already made to that person in respect of the undertaking.
11
In the application of this regulation to a common grazing “change of occupation” includes the apportionment to a crofter of any land from the common grazing during the period of the undertaking but does not include a change in the membership of the grazings committee.
12
The provisions of this regulation are, insofar as the aid paid under these Regulations includes aid under Council Regulation 1698/2005, subject to Articles 44 and 45 (transfer of holding) and Article 47 (force majeure or exceptional circumstances) of Commission Regulation 1974/2006, and where a beneficiary is required to reimburse the aid paid, interest shall be payable thereon at the rate calculated in accordance with that provided in regulation 19.
Powers of authorised persons14
1
The Scottish Ministers may authorise a person, either generally or specifically, to act in relation to matters arising under these Regulations, and an authorised person may at all reasonable hours, on producing, if so required, some duly authenticated document showing the authorised person's authority, enter on any land or premises–
a
to which an application for aid or undertaking relates; or
b
on which the authorised person has reasonable grounds to believe that documents relating to an application for aid or undertaking are being kept, for any of the purposes mentioned in paragraph (2).
2
The purposes referred to in paragraph (1) are–
a
inspecting the land to which the application or undertaking relates;
b
verifying the accuracy of any information provided by an applicant or a beneficiary or on the applicant's or the beneficiary's behalf, relating to an application, a claim for aid or an undertaking;
c
determining whether or not a beneficiary has complied with an undertaking; or
d
providing a control report in accordance with Article 13 or 19(2) of Commission Regulation 1975/2996.
3
An authorised person who has entered any land or premises under paragraph (1) may–
a
inspect the land and any premises, plant, machinery, equipment, document or record on it which that person reasonably believes relates to an application, a claim for payment of aid or an undertaking;
b
require the applicant or the beneficiary, or any employee or agent of such applicant or beneficiary, to produce, or secure the production of, any document or supply any additional information in the applicant's or beneficiary's possession or under the applicant's or the beneficiary's control relating to an application, a claim for payment of aid or an undertaking, as the case may be;
c
where any information referred to in sub paragraph (b) is kept by means of a computer, have access to any computer and any associated apparatus or material which is or has been used for storing that information and require that information to be reproduced in a form in which it may be easily read and can be taken away;
d
require copies of or extracts from any such document or other record referred to in sub paragraphs (a) or (b) to be produced;
e
retain a copy of any document produced to the authorised person;
f
seize and retain any document or other record which that person reasonably believes may be required as evidence in proceedings under these Regulations; and
g
in so far as may be necessary for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b) or (c), inspect and count livestock on the land or premises and may, for this purpose, require the applicant or the beneficiary, or any employee or agent of such applicant or beneficiary, to arrange for the collection, penning and securing of such livestock.
4
An authorised person who enters any land or premises under paragraph (1) for the purposes referred to in paragraph (2)(c) or (d) may exercise, in addition to the powers specified in paragraph (3), any of the powers specified in Regulation 6(3) of the Common Agricultural Policy Schemes (Cross-Compliance) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 M23.
5
An applicant or beneficiary or any employee or agent of such applicant or beneficiary must give an authorised person all reasonable assistance in relation to the matters mentioned in paragraphs (1) and (3) above.
6
An authorised person entering any land under paragraph (1) may be accompanied by–
a
any official of the European Commission; and
b
such other person as the authorised person considers necessary,
and paragraphs (3) and (4) shall apply to that person when acting under the instructions of an authorised person as they apply to an authorised person.
7
An authorised person will not be liable in any proceedings for anything done in exercise of the powers conferred on an authorised person by these Regulations if a court, hearing such proceedings, is satisfied that–
a
the act was done in good faith;
b
there were reasonable grounds for doing it; and
c
it was done with reasonable skill and care.
8
Paragraph (1) above applies to any land used for the purposes of a dwellinghouse only where reasonable notice of its intended exercise has been given to all residents of that dwellinghouse.
Breaches of undertakings etc.15
F1001
Where—
a
any information furnished to the Scottish Ministers by the applicant or beneficiary or on the applicant’s or beneficiary’s behalf, is false or misleading in a material respect;
b
the beneficiary is in breach of any of the terms of an undertaking or any condition subject to which approval was given or payment of aid was made;
c
the beneficiary is in breach of any requirement to which the beneficiary is subject under these Regulations or under Council Regulation 1698/2005, Commission Regulation 1974/2006 or Commission Regulation 1975/2006; or
d
the whole or any part of any sum paid or payable under an undertaking duplicates assistance provided or to be provided out of monies made available by—
i
the European Community; or
ii
under any statutory provision,
the Scottish Ministers may exercise any of the powers specified in regulation 17.
2
For the purposes of paragraph (1)(d), a sum duplicates such assistance if it is, or would be, paid for any of the same purposes.
3
Where–
a
there is a change of occupation under regulation 13 and the beneficiary has transferred all or part of the land to which an undertaking relates to another person (“the successor”);
b
the successor has, within three months of the date of the transfer, given notice to the Scottish Ministers to assume the undertaking in place of the beneficiary; and
c
the Scottish Ministers have accepted that undertaking,
the beneficiary shall be released from their undertaking with effect from the date of the acceptance by the Scottish Ministers of the successor's undertaking other than in respect of any breach or other matter occurring before the date last mentioned.
Other cases in which recovery etc. powers apply16
The Scottish Ministers may exercise the powers specified in paragraph (1)(a) to (d) of regulation 17 where they are satisfied that–
a
there has been a material change in the nature, scale or timing of the activities or capital items in relation to which an undertaking has been made;
b
the activities or capital items in relation to which an undertaking has been made are delayed or are unlikely to be completed;
c
the applicant or beneficiary has intentionally obstructed an authorised person (or a person accompanying that person and acting under that person's instructions) in the exercise of the powers under regulation 14 or failed to comply with a requirement imposed under regulation 14(3)(b) to (g);
d
sums paid are otherwise not due under these Regulations; or
e
the European Commission has decided that the aid paid, or to be paid, does not comply with Council Regulation 1698/2005, Commission Regulation 1974/2006 or Commission Regulation 1975/2006.
Powers of recovery etc. of the Scottish Ministers17
1
The powers conferred by regulations 15 and 16 are–
a
to apply a reduction to any payment of aid made, or to be made to the applicant or beneficiary under these Regulations;
b
to revoke or vary (including any conditions subject to which it was given) the approval in respect of the whole or any part of a payment of aid to be made;
c
to withhold the whole or any part of the aid payable to the beneficiary; and
d
to recover on demand the whole or any part of any aid already paid to a beneficiary.
2
Where the powers specified in paragraph (1) are exercised and the Scottish Ministers also think that the applicant or beneficiary acted recklessly, the Scottish Ministers may also require the beneficiary to pay to the Scottish Ministers an additional sum equal to no more than 10% of the aid paid or payable to the beneficiary.
3
Where the Scottish Ministers take any step specified in paragraph (1), the Scottish Ministers may also suspend or terminate the undertaking, and thereupon any entitlement of the beneficiary to aid in respect of the unexpired period of the undertaking shall likewise be suspended or terminated, as the case may be.
4
A reduction under paragraph (1)(a) must be applied in accordance with Council Regulation 1975/2006.
5
Before the Scottish Ministers do anything under paragraph (1), (2) or (3), they must–
a
give the applicant or beneficiary in respect of whom such a step is proposed to be taken, written notification of that step, and if appropriate the amount by which it is proposed that the aid be reduced or the amount of such aid which it is proposed be withheld or recovered;
b
give that applicant or beneficiary an opportunity to make representations about the proposed step, within such time and in such form as they think fit; and
c
consider such representations.
Information and records18
1
A beneficiary must–
a
retain all invoices, accounts and other relevant documents in relation to the application for aid or undertaking and produce them for inspection if required to do so by the Scottish Ministers; and
b
provide such additional information in relation to the application for aid, undertaking or aid paid in pursuance of the application for aid or undertaking as the Scottish Ministers may require.
2
The duties in paragraph (1) apply–
a
in the case of a payment of aid for the purchase of heritable property, for a period of 10 years;
b
in any other case, for a period of 6 years;
(in either case) following the last payment of aid under these Regulations.
3
If the beneficiary transfers the original of any such document to another person in the normal course of business, the beneficiary must keep a copy of that document for that period.
4
Paragraph (1) does not apply where the document has been removed by any person lawfully authorised to remove it.
Recovery of interest19
1
Where the Scottish Ministers exercise the power conferred by regulation 17(1)(d) they may also recover on demand interest on the sum to be recovered at a rate of interest one per cent above the sterling 3 month London interbank offered rate on a day to day basis from the date of demand of repayment until the date of recovery.
2
In any proceedings for recovery under these Regulations, a certificate issued by the Scottish Ministers stating the rate or rates of interest, the amount of such interest recoverable and the period for which such interest is calculated shall, unless the contrary is shown, be conclusive of those matters.
Sums payable to the Scottish Ministers be recoverable as a debt20
Where an amount falls to be paid to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of (or by virtue of an action taken under) these Regulations, such an amount is recoverable as a debt.
Guidance21
1
The Scottish Ministers may publish guidance from time to time on–
a
the circumstances in which they will normally apply a reduction under regulation 17(1)(a), and the amount such a reduction will normally be; and
b
generally, how they intend to perform their functions under these Regulations.
2
The Scottish Ministers must have regard to any guidance published under paragraph (1) when performing their functions under these Regulations.
Offences22
1
A person is guilty of an offence if–
a
for the purposes of obtaining any financial assistance under these Regulations for themselves or any other person, they knowingly or recklessly make a statement which is false or misleading in any material particular; or
b
they intentionally obstruct an authorised person (or a person accompanying that person and acting under that person's instructions) in the exercise of the powers under regulation 14.
2
A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
3
Proceedings for an offence under these Regulations may be commenced within the period of 12 months from the date on which the offence was committed.
4
Section 136(3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 M24 (date of commencement of proceedings) shall apply for the purposes of this regulation as it applies for the purposes of that section.
5
Where an offence under paragraph (1) is committed by a body corporate or a partnership and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in such a capacity (or in the case of a partnership, a partner or a person who was purporting to act as such), that person as well as the body corporate or the partnership, as the case may be, is guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
6
Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (5) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with the member's management functions as if the member were a director of the body corporate.
Right of appeal23
The Agricultural Subsidies (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 M25 are amended by inserting after regulation 4(t)–
u
a decision by the Scottish Ministers to withhold any aid due or recover any aid paid (in whole or in part) or require payment of any sum under the Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Regulations 2008, in terms of those Regulations.
SCHEDULE 1INTERPRETATION OF SCHEDULES
In Schedules 2, 3 and 4 and in this Schedule–
“the 1994 Regulations” means the Organic Aid (Scotland) Regulations 1994 M26;
“the 2004 Regulations” means the Organic Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2004 M27;
“alpaca” means any alpaca of any breed which are kept by way of business for the primary purpose of fibre production;
“ancient wood pasture” means land currently listed in, and land which is a candidate for listing in, the “Inventory of Ancient Wood Pasture in Scotland” as maintained by Scottish Natural Heritage M28;
“arable crops” means cereals, linseeds, oilseed, root crops, fruit crops or protein crops, including vining peas;
“arable land” means land which was in an arable crop (or under set aside or lying fallow as part of a normal crop rotation) in one or more years during the five years prior to the 15th May in the year of submission of the application for aid;
F69“BASC Codes of Practice on Shooting, Lamping and Trapping of Pest Animals” means the Code of Good Shooting Practice 2008, the Code of Practice on Lamping 2004, the Code of Practice on Trapping of Pest Mammals 2007 and the Code of Practice on the Trapping of Pest Birds 2001 produced by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation;
“beetlebank” means a grass strip between 1.5 metres and 6 metres created in the margin of or through an arable field in order to allow beneficial insects to over-winter;
“bio-bed” means a shallow excavation filled with biomass;
“breeding cow” means a cow that forms part of a herd either used for rearing calves for meat production or used for milk production and which has borne a calf;
“coastal heath” means land bordering the sea containing moorland or species-rich grassland affected by salt spray and exposure;
F24“community woodland” means woodland where at least 50% of the planting is located within 1 kilometre of the homes of 2000 or more people following liaison and consultation with the community and designed to provide opportunities for public access and recreation;
“control body” means an independent private third party organisation carrying out inspection and certification in organic production as in Article 2 of Council Regulation 834/2007;
F70“Council Regulation 834/2007” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 as amended from time to time;
“cropped machair” means sandy plains formed when calcareous shell-sand has been blown over glacial deposits and peat and which has been subject to cultivation within the last 10 years;
“designed landscape” means a garden or a landscape, including parkland policy grassland, which is included in a record, recognised by the Scottish Ministers, of existing historic gardens and designed landscapes;
“ditches” means a man-made channel or adapted watercourse on in-bye land, which has a bed width of not less than 0.3 metres and which generally carries water away from surrounding land or field drainage systems throughout the year;
“ewe” means a female sheep which is at least one year old on the 1st of January preceding the application for aid and which is kept in a breeding flock;
“European site” has the meaning given in regulation 10 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 M29;
“farmed deer” means any deer (of any species) which are managed on a holding enclosed by a deer-proof barrier and are kept on the holding by way of business for the primary purpose of the production of meat;
F1“favourable condition” means in relation to the features for which SSSI sites or European sites are designated that such sites are (1) in satisfactory condition as determined by SNH or (2) recovering, with the necessary management measures in place, such that SNH predicts that such sites will in due course reach satisfactory condition;
“floodplain” means eligible land adjacent to a watercourse which is subject to flooding in times of high water level;
“formally in conversion” means that the necessary formal written consent has been obtained by the applicant from F27a control body that the land is in conversion;
“full organic certification” means certification from F27a control body that the land is fully organic;
“fully organic” means land which is farmed in accordance with F25Council Regulation 834/2007 and the Organic Standards Compendium which has been certified as fully organic by F27a control body;
F71“General Licence” means a licence granted by the Scottish Ministers to allow an individual to take or kill birds or eggs or nests of specific named species for the licensable purposes listed in section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981;
“goat” means any goat (of any species) which is kept by way of business for the purposes of fibre, meat or milk production;
“grass margin” means a grass strip between 1.5 metres and 6 metres created in the margin of or through an arable field in order to allow beneficial insects to over-winter;
“HAP” means a Habitat Action Plan which is part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan M30;
“hedge” means a line of shrubs or trees which delineate field boundaries;
“herd” means two or more breeding cows of either pure-bred or first cross native or traditional breed;
“IACS business” means a business registered on the Integrated Administration and Control System run by the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate and given a unique business reference number;
“improved grassland” means either land used for grazing (other than arable land) where over one third of the sward comprises, singly or in mixture, ryegrass, cocksfoot or timothy, or land that has been improved by management practices such as liming and top dressing, where there is not a significant presence of sensitive plant species indicative of native unimproved grassland;
“in-bye land” means that part of a farm not comprising the hill and rough grazings, the bulk of which is used for arable and grassland production;
“indicator species” means the following:–
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium);
Lady's Smock (Cardamine pratensis);
Marsh Thistle (Cirsium palustre);
Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia caespitosa);
Waxy Hair-grass (Deschampsia flexuosa);
Cat's-ear (Hypochoeris radicata);
Wood-rush (Luzula spp.);
Black Medick (Medicago lupulina);
Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris);
Common sorrel (Rumex acetosa);
Gorse (Ulex europaeus);
Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys);
“injurious weeds” means spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broadleaved dock, and common ragwort;
“Less Favoured Area” has the same meaning as in regulation 2(1) of the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2007 M31;
“livestock” means bovine, ovine, caprine, alpaca and farmed deer;
“livestock unit” means a unit of measurement of livestock numbers, and each of the following constitute one livestock unit:–
- a
one cow (including suckling calves);
- b
one unit of cattle, other than a cow, aged 24 months and over;
- c
1.66 cattle, other than cows, aged over 6 months but less than 24 months;
- d
6.66 ewes (including suckling lambs);
- e
6.66 sheep, other than ewes;
- f
6.66 goats;
- g
2.5 adult stags farmed deer aged 27 months and over;
- h
3.33 hinds farmed deer (including suckling calves) aged 27 months and over;
- i
5 juvenile farmed deer, aged over 6 months but less than 27 months;
- j
3.33 alpacas;
- a
“local ranger or access officer” means a ranger or access officer employed by SNH or a local authority or, if within a National Park, by the relevant Park Authority;
“local authority” means a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 M32;
“local development strategy” means a coherent set of projects, contracts or arrangements or other actions to meet local objectives and needs implemented in partnership at the appropriate level allowing achievement of the objective of improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity and encompassing one or more of the measures under Article 52 of Council Regulation 1698/2005;
“locally distinctive built boundary features” means the following – earthen and turf banks, ha has, parkland fencing, walled garden walls, bridges, gateposts, gatepiers, mounting stands, mile markers and stone stiles;
“lowland heath” means land generally found below 300 metres in altitude, usually characterised by plants such as heather, dwarf grass and cross based heath; amongst the heather layer, there are generally scattered areas of trees and scrub;
“lowland raised bog” means an isolated peat deposit over one metre thick that is surrounded by non peat soils;
“machair” means sandy plains formed when calcareous shell sand has been blown over glacial deposits and peat but does not include cropped machair;
“moorland” means land with predominantly semi natural upland vegetation or comprising predominantly rock outcrops and semi natural upland vegetation, which is used for rough grazing;
“muirburn” has the same meaning as in section 39(1)(f) of the Hill Farming Act 1946 M33;
“NSA” means a national scenic area defined as such in part 11 of “Scotland's Scenic Heritage” published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland on 26th April 1978 M34;
“National Park” means an area designated as such under section 2 of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 M35;
“Nitrates Action Programme” means the action programme set out in the Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2003 M36;
“nitrate vulnerable zone” means any area designated as a nitrate vulnerable zone by regulation 3 of the Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2002 M37 and regulation 3 of the Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2002 M38;
“native woodland” means self seeded woodland of native species or woodland derived from an originally naturally occurring woodland;
F26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“organic production” means land which is farmed in accordance with F72Council Regulation 834/2007 as read with any additional provisions as set out in the Organic Standards Compendium;
“organic production unit” means land, other than a common grazing, which is fully organic;
“Organic Standards Compendium” means the Compendium of UK Organic Standards published by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs M39;
“organic viability proposal” means a proposal outlining how land will be converted to organic production as approved by F27a control body;
“outcomes of the SRDP” means the 5 main outcomes for rural development in Scotland as set out in the 2007 to 2013 Rural Development Programme for Scotland approved under Council Regulation 1698/2005 by the European Commission describing the measures arising out of Council Regulation 1698/2005 which will apply to Scotland over the period 2007 to 2013;
“overgrazing” means grazing land with livestock in such numbers as to adversely affect the growth, quality or species composition of vegetation (other than vegetation normally grazed to destruction) on that land to a significant degree;
“poaching” means the trampling or treading of the ground surface by livestock resulting in permanent damage to the vegetation;
“potential SPA” means a site identified by Scottish Ministers as potentially qualifying for special protection area classification and for which a decision to classify has yet to be taken pending consultation by SNH M40;
“rough grazings” means land containing semi natural vegetation including heathland, heather moorland, bog and rough grassland used or suitable for use as grazing;
“rural community group” means a community group which has a written constitution and which holds a bank account for the benefit of that group and whose membership is drawn from a rural settlement;
“rural settlement” means a settlement which has a population of less than 3000 according to the Scottish Executive Urban Rural F8Classifications 2003-2004 M41F9, 2005–2006 or Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification 2007–2008;
“scrub” means low growing woody vegetation of small trees and shrubs including linear scrub along field margins and includes all stages from scattered bushes to closed canopy vegetation dominated by locally native shrubs or tree saplings usually less than 5 metres tall occasionally with a few scattered trees, carr, scrub in the uplands and lowlands (including wood edge habitats), montane scrub and coastal scrub are included;
“SAC” means a special area of conservation designated as such pursuant to regulation 8 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 M42;
“SAP” means a Species Action Plan which is part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan M43;
F59“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;
“SEPA” means the Scottish Environment Protection Agency;
“small unit” means an agricultural business with no more than 20 hectares of in bye land;
“SNH” means Scottish Natural Heritage;
“SPA” means a special protection area being an area classified as such pursuant to Article 4(1) or (2) of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds;
“species-rich grassland” means in-bye land used for grazing or mowing which is not normally treated with mineral fertiliser or lime and does not constitute rough grazing, but which is floristically diverse;
“SSSI Site” means a site of special scientific interest within the meaning of section 3(6) or of Schedule 5 to the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 M44;
“the Treaty” means the Treaty establishing the European Community;
“the UK Forestry Standard” means the UK Forestry Standard: the government's approach to sustainable forestry published by the Forestry Commission M45;
“undergrazing” means grazing at a level where there is evidence of the annual growth not being fully utilised or scrub or coarse vegetation is becoming evident and such changes are detrimental to the environmental interest of the site;
“unimproved grassland” means in-bye land used for grazing or mowing which is not normally treated with mineral fertiliser or lime and does not constitute either improved grassland or rough grazings;
“vegetable and fruit land” means land used for growing vegetable and fruit;
“water margin” means an area of in-bye land bordering an area of still or flowing water;
“wetland” means in bye ground which is normally saturated with water for a significant proportion of the year; and
“young farmer” means a person who at the time of submitting the application for aid is under 40 years of age.
SCHEDULE 2RURAL PRIORITIES OPTIONS
PART 1OPTION, ACTIVITIES AND ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS AND RATES OF PAYMENT
F28...
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Option | Activity and eligibility conditions | Rate of payment | ||
|
| 75percnt; of the cost of training. An additional 10% for the organising member of the group based on the total cost of group training. | ||
|
| F61Support 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; | ||
F73. . . | ||||
F73. . . | ||||
|
| Up to 40% of eligible costs (non Less Favoured Areas) and 50% (Less Favoured Areas) with a 10% premium for investments undertaken by young farmers. | ||
|
| Up to F7550% of eligible costs (non Less Favoured Areas) and F7660% (Less Favoured Areas) with a 10% premium for investments undertaken by young farmers. | ||
|
| 40% of eligible actual costs (non Less Favoured Areas) and 50% F10of eligible actual costs (Less Favoured Area) F11including the cost of fencing (for both non Less Favoured Areas and Less Favoured Areas) up to a maximum F12payment of £1000 per hectare. | ||
|
| Up to 50% of eligible costs in Less Favoured Areas (60% for young farmers). Up to 40% of eligible costs in non Less Favoured Areas (50% for young farmers). | ||
|
| Up to 50% of eligible costs in Less Favoured Areas. Up to 40% of eligible costs in non Less Favoured Areas. | ||
|
| Up to 50% of net actual costs identified and approved in the investment plan. | ||
|
| In the Highlands and Islands up to 50% of eligible costs. Up to 40% elsewhere. | ||
|
| Up to 100% of eligible costs. | ||
|
| Up to 50% of eligible costs in Less Favoured Areas (60% for young farmers). Up to 40% of eligible costs in non Less Favoured Areas (50% for young farmers). | ||
|
| Up to 50% of eligible costs in Less Favoured Areas (60% for young farmers). Up to 40% of eligible costs in non Less Favoured Areas (50% for young farmers). | ||
|
| As set out in Table A in Part 2 of the Schedule or a minimum of £500 per annum per holding per management option – conversion (any one of, or a combination of, elements A and B) or maintenance (any one of, or combination of, elements C and D) irrespective of the land area at the rates set out in Table A in Part 2 of this Schedule. | ||
|
| £391.26 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £174.88 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £224.48 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| Option 1 – £271 per hectare per year. Option 2 £381 per hectare per year. Option 3 £691 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £313 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £800 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £162 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £111 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| A. £2 per hectare. B. £270 per year.£270 per trap per year with no more than 1 trap per hectare. C. Actual costs up to £7.50 per hectare per year. Rates of payment correspond to the 3 elements in column 2. | ||
|
| A: £1,076 per nest per year. B: £32 per carcass. Rates of payment correspond to the 2 elements in column 2. | ||
|
| £55 per farm unit per year. £82 per common grazings committee per year. | ||
|
| For Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, £160 per hectare per annum. For the control of grey squirrels for red squirrel conservation using a single capture trap, £185 per trap site per annum. For the control of grey squirrels for the protection of identified stands of high biodiversity value broadleaf woodland using multi-capture traps, £111 per trap per annum. Rhododendron payments are capital items and the item and payment rates are set out in Schedule 3. | ||
|
| £111 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £28 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £223.57 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £104 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £90 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £226.17 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £40 per hectare per year except where the beneficiary produces and implements a grazing management plan in which case – £83 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £286.63 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £39 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £267.90 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £77 per hectare per year up to 30 hectares. £44 per hectare per year for next 40 hectares. £1.30 per hectare per year thereafter. | ||
|
| £123 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £0.70 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £1.30 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £2 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £19.63 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £21 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £9 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £67 per hectare per year. Payment will be based on the average area to be burned each year. | ||
|
| Trimmed once in 3 years £0.93 per metre per year. Trimmed once in 2 years £0.93 per metre per year. | ||
|
| Trimmed once in 3 years £0.53 per metre per year. | ||
|
| £473.76 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £70.94 per hectare per year. Where cereal crop is harvested by binder and stooks gathered into stacks £470.94 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| Arable cropping £233 (without farmyard manure/seaweed) per hectare per year. £279 (with farmyard manure/seaweed) per hectare per year. £222 supplement when harvested with binder and stooks gathered into stacks, per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £105 per hectare per year for in-bye land. £50 per hectare per year for rough grazing. | ||
|
| £94 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £250 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| £25 per hectare per year plus a fixed sum of £180. 4 or more current applications from the same crofting community will be deemed to be part of a collective application: £25 per hectare per year plus a fixed sum of £275. | ||
|
| Introduction of cattle £273 per hectare per year. Retention of cattle £185 per hectare per year. | ||
|
| This is a capital item £1.02 per hectare per annum for the first 150 hectares and £0.20 per hectare per annum for the next 100 hectares up to a maximum of £873.28 per plan over 5 years per application for aid. | ||
|
| £7.82 per hour. | ||
|
| Up to 50% of actual costs except for gates which are a standard cost capital item. | ||
|
| F20Payment rates for establishment up to F7980% (up to F8090% in Less Favoured Areas) of the standard cost of planting and maintenance (up to 100% of standard costs) are shown at Table C in Part 2 of this Schedule. F21Payment rates for additional fencing capital items are up to F7980% (up to F8090% in Less Favoured Areas) of the standard cost shown for fencing related items in Table D in Part 2 of this Schedule. Annual payments for agricultural income foregone for up to 15 years are Per hectare–Arable and improved on non Less Favoured Areas £300 Arable and Improved on disadvantaged areas of the Less Favoured Areas £230 Arable and improved on severely disadvantaged areas of Less Favoured Areas £160 Unimproved land £60 Payment rates for each woodland type are shown at Table C in Part 2 of this schedule. F35A supplementary payment of £1,500 per hectare may be made for a community woodland. | ||
|
| Up to £28 per hectare per year. Up to £56 per hectare per year in areas of high level of public access overlap with either native woodlands or areas of LISS. £41 per hectare per year where the removal of livestock results in agricultural income forgone. Payment will be approved for 10 years but with a review after 5 years. £130 per hectare for a period of 4 years for those areas undergoing restructuring felling. Payment will commence on completion of the felling in the identified areas. | ||
|
| Up to F14100% of the standard costs for each item listed in Table D in Part 2 F62and up to 100% of the actual cost capital items listed in Table E in Part 2F36Approved operations must be carried out and paid once during the 5 year contract period. | ||
|
| Up to 50% of eligible costs. | ||
|
| Up to 50% of eligible costs. | ||
|
| Up to 50% of eligible costs. | ||
|
| Up to 75% of actual costs for capital items with a ceiling limit of £500 per item. This is a one-off payment per item paid in arrears. | ||
|
| Up to 75% of actual costs for capital itemsF15.... | ||
|
| One off capital payment of 50% of actual cost of investment in the infrastructure on project completion. | ||
|
| Up to 100% of approved eligible costs. | ||
|
| For option (a),F16...payment in arrears, at 100% of actual costs incurred during the claim year. For option (b), one off payment in arrears, at 75% of total project costs incurred. | ||
|
| 75% of actual costs for capital items paid in arrears up to £5500 per beneficiary. | ||
|
| 75% of the cost of training. | ||
F73. . . | ||||
|
| Up to 100% of actual costs. F84Up to £11,232.88. | ||
|
| Up to 100% of actual costs F86with a limit of £5,616.44 for undertaking the control programme, net of income from the sale of burrowing animal carcasses. Sale receipts for any such sale of burrowing animals must be submitted with the claim. | ||
|
| Up to 100% of actual costs. F90Up to £2,500 for a system supplying individual troughs and up to £7,500 for a multiple trough system. | ||
|
| Up to 100% of actual costs. F93Up to a maximum of £7,000 per hectare or up to £136,986 whichever is the greater | ||
F6378.Controlled livestock grazing of woodland |
| £87 per hectare per year |
PART 2
Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 2 substituted (7.11.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/335), regs. 1, 8(f)
Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Table C substituted (7.11.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/335), regs. 1, 8(g)
Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Table D substituted (1.2.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/1), regs. 1, 5
Sum in Sch. 2 Pt. 2 substituted (7.11.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/335), regs. 1, 8(h)
Sum in Sch. 2 Pt. 2 substituted (7.11.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/335), regs. 1, 8(i)
Sum in Sch. 2 Pt. 2 substituted (7.11.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/335), regs. 1, 8(j)
Sum in Sch. 2 Pt. 2 substituted (7.11.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/335), regs. 1, 8(k)
Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 2 inserted (7.11.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/335), regs. 1, 8(l)
Words in Sch. 2 Pt. 2 inserted (18.12.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/411), reg. 1, Sch. 2
Sch. 2 Pt. 2 Table E added (18.12.2009) by The Rural Development Contracts (Rural Priorities) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/411), reg. 1, Sch. 3
Land type | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conversion | |||||
Arable | £220 | £220 | £60 | £60 | £60 |
Improved grassland | £105 | £105 | £50 | £50 | £50 |
Fruit & vegetable | £300 | £300 | £60 | £60 | £60 |
Unimproved grassland/ rough grazing | £5 | £5 | £5 | £5 | £5 |
Maintenance | |||||
Arable | £60 | £60 | £60 | £60 | £60 |
Improved grassland | £50 | £50 | £50 | £50 | £50 |
Fruit & vegetable | £60 | £60 | £60 | £60 | £60 |
Unimproved grassland/ rough grazing | £5 | £5 | £5 | £5 | £5 |
Woodland Type | Minimum wood or individual block size planted per year (hectares) | Composition | Minimum stocking density per hectare at year 5 or when considered to be ‘established’ |
---|---|---|---|
Productive conifer woodland (low cost) | 5.0 |
| Spruce – 2500 Broadleaves – 1100 |
Productive conifer woodland (high cost) | 5.0 |
| Pine – 3000 Douglas Fir, Larch – 2000 Broadleaves – 1100 |
Productive broadleaved woodland | 2.0 |
| Oak, Beech – 3100 Sycamore, Ash – 2500 Other Broadleaf – 1100 |
F37Native and riparian woodland (planting) | 0.25 |
| F371100 |
F37Native and riparian woodland (natural regeneration) | 0.25 |
| F371100 |
Mixed conifer / broadleaf woodland | 0.25 |
| Conifer – 2500 Broadleaves – F371100 |
Woodland Type | Establishment £/ha * | Maintenance Standard Cost Rate £/ha/year ** |
---|---|---|
Productive conifer woodland (low cost) | 1724 | 161.39 |
Productive conifer woodland (high cost) | 2064 | 186.40 |
Productive broadleaved woodland | 3317 | 229.79 |
Native and riparian (planting model) | 2802 | 218.20 |
Native and riparian (natural regeneration model) | 905 | 101.60 |
Mixed conifer/broadleaf woodland | 3063 | 222.40 |
* Paid as a lump sum on completion of planting. | ||
** Paid as an annual payment for a period of 5 years. Trees must be satisfactorily ‘established’ within 10 years of planting. Only payable where planting has occurred on agricultural land or abandoned agricultural land (i.e. at least 50% of a woodland type must be on agricultural land and/or abandoned agricultural land to be eligible for the maintenance payments). |
The term ‘established’ means that trees must be present to the minimum stocking densities specified, healthy, and in a condition capable of continued growth given no further weeding but subject to normal ongoing maintenance operations such as protection from inappropriate grazing by wild or domestic animals.
An additional establishment premium for using genetically improved planting material is available as follows:
Categories of genetically improved planting material | £ per hectare | |
Sitka spruce seed orchard material that falls within the tested category in terms of regulation 4 of the Forest Reproductive Material (Great Britain) Regulations 2002 | 50 | |
Sitka spruce vegetatively propagated tested ‘family mixture’ material derived from controlled cross-pollination. | 150 |
Column 1 | Column 2 |
---|---|
Item | Standard Cost |
Fell/extract dangerous trees | £200 per tree |
Manual brashing | £0.35 per tree |
High pruning | £1.30 per tree |
Badger gates installed in fence lines which are cutting across an established badger run | £110 per gate |
Respace natural regeneration | F39£600 per hectare |
Early pruning of trees | £250 per hectare |
High pruning of trees | £400 per hectare |
Pre commercial and non commercial woodland thinning | £150 per hectare |
Removal of tree crop to waste 3 – 6 metres high | £750 per hectare |
Woodland clearance benefiting raised bog/blanket bog felling of waste | £975 per hectare |
Woodland clearance benefiting raised bog/blanket bog – felling and extraction | £1375 per hectare |
Seedling tree removal | £35 per hectare |
Small scale woodland thinning | £300 per hectare |
Chipping/mulching of tree debris and brash | £500 per hectare |
Restructuring with Caledonian Scots pine | F40£411.64 per hectare |
Restructuring with diverse conifers | F40£411.64 per hectare |
Restructuring with mixed broadleaves | F41£1,030.14 per hectare |
Restructuring with native broadleaves | F42£1,100 per hectare |
Woodland deer impact reduction | £30 per hectare for deer control during the first 5 years of a Deer Management Plan |
Forest plan preparation | £20 per hectare for first 200 hectares, £5 per hectare thereafter with a minimum payment of £400 and a maximum payment of £15,000 |
Dead wood management | £40 per hectare |
Stock fence | £4 per metre |
Enhancing/modifying a stock fence in black grouse and capercaillie core areas | £2 per metre |
F43New deer fence | £7.25 per metre |
Upgrading stock to deer fence | £2.75 per metre |
Scare or temporary fencing | £1.50 per metre |
Rabbit proofing – existing or new stock/deer fence | £1.90 per metre |
Enhancing/modifying a deer fence in black grouse and capercaillie core areas | £5 per metre |
Conversion of deer fence to stock fence in black grouse and capercaille core areas | £2 per metre |
Fence removal | £2 per metre |
Gate for stock fence | £100 each |
Gate for deer fence | £170 each |
Ditch/drain blocking with plastic piling dams: Small ditches (up to 0.5 metres wide and deep) | £60 per dam |
Ditch/drain blocking with plastic piling dams: Medium ditches (between 0.5 and 1 metre wide and deep) | £120 per dam |
Ditch/drain blocking with plastic piling dams: Large ditches (between 1 and 2 metres wide and 0.5 and 1 metre deep) | £280 per dam |
Peat dam | £0.26 per metre of drain or furrow blocked with peat dams. Minimum payment £300 |
Small scale tree and shrub planting (on a site not exceeding 0.25 hectares) | £2 per tree or shrub |
Heather restoration (in Black Grouse core areas) | £250 per hectare |
Provision of bat and bird boxes | £15 per box. |
F64Primary treatment of bracken | £200/hectare of infested land |
Eradication of scrub/woody vegetation: Light vegetation | £600/hectare |
Eradication of scrub/woody vegetation: Intermediate vegetation | £850/hectare |
Eradication of scrub/woody vegetation: Heavy vegetation | £1250/hectare |
Removal from site of the cut shrub/woody vegetation: Light vegetation | £500/hectare |
Removal from site of the cut shrub/woody vegetation: Intermediate vegetation | £1050/hectare |
Removal from site of the cut shrub/woody vegetation: Heavy vegetation | £1450/hectare |
Peat dam | £0.26 per metre of moor grip to be blocked with peat dams. Minimum payment £300. |
Provision of water troughs to replace traditional watering points | £195 each |
Installation of water supply pipe to water trough or pasture pump | £3 per metre of pipe laid |
Water trough pump: cattle operated pasture or nose pump | £180 per installed pump |
Stock bridge for bog management: | |
Small bridge | £170 per bridge |
Large bridge (for ditch wider than 1.5m) | £620 per bridge |
Heather management (in black grouse and Capercaillie core areas) | £250/hectare |
Manual eradiation of rhododendron | £3700/hectare of infested land |
Mechanised (and/or chemical) eradication of rhododendron | £1750/hectare of infested land |
Item Column | Column 2 Applicability | Column 3 Payment |
---|---|---|
Operations required for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Natura sites to help bring their special feature into favourable condition | Only available in exceptional circumstances where additional action or effort is required over and above the standard cost capital items, to maintain or bring the qualifying interests of SSSIs and Natura sites into favourable condition. Beneficiaries must provide justification of why the standard cost capital items and rates are not appropriate and provide details of the work required and the associated costs. | Up to 100% of actual costs |
Control of rhododendron in geographical areas covered by a regional control strategy for this non-native species and in all native and ancient woodlands | Only available in exceptional circumstances where additional action or effort is required over and above the two standard cost items for the eradication of rhododendron. | Up to 100% of actual costs |
Beneficiaries must provide justification of why standard cost capital items and rates are not appropriate and provide details of the work required and the associated costs. |
SCHEDULE 3Standard Payment Rates for Capital Items
A beneficiary is eligible for payment for these capital items only where the beneficiary has undertaken to carry out or beneficiary has undertaken to carry out or carry out and maintain an activity under F44any of the rural priorities options numbered 15 to 57. The capital items must be carried out in accordance with the requirements in the programme guidance .
Column 1 | Column 2 |
---|---|
Capital Item | Rate of Payment |
F95. . . | |
F95. . . | |
Primary treatment of bracken | £200 per hectare of infested land |
Manual eradication of rhododendron | F45£3700 per hectare of infested land |
F46Mechanised (and/or chemical) eradication of rhododendron | F46£1750 per hectare of infested land |
F47. . . | F47. . . |
Eradication of scrub/woody vegetation:Light vegetation category | £600 per hectare |
Eradication of scrub/woody vegetation:Intermediate vegetation category | £850 per hectare |
Eradication of scrub/woody vegetation:Heavy vegetation category | £1250 per hectare |
Removal from site of the cut scrub/woody vegetation: Light vegetation cover | £500 per hectare |
Removal from site of the cut scrub/woody vegetation: Intermediate vegetation cover | £1,050 per hectare |
Removal from site of the cut scrub/woody vegetation: Heavy vegetation cover | £1,450 per hectare |
Dead wood management | £40 per hectare |
Stock fence | £4.00 per metre |
Enhancing/ modifying a stock fence (in black grouse and capercaillie core areas) | £2 per metre |
Upgrading stock to deer fence | £2.75 per metre |
Scare or temporary fencing | £1.50 per metre |
Rabbit proofing existing or new stock/ deer fence | £1.90 per metre |
Deer fence | F48£7.25 per metre |
Enhancing/ modifying a deer fence (in black grouse and capercaillie core areas) | £5 per metre |
Conversion of deer fence to stock fence (in black grouse and capercaillie core areas) | £2 per metre |
Fence removal | £2 per metre |
Gate |
|
Kissing gate/self-closing gate for non-vehicular access | £350 each |
Stile | £55 each |
Stock bridge for bog management | Small bridge : £170 per bridgeLarge bridge for ditch wider than 1.5m : £620 per bridge |
Small-scale tree and shrub planting (on a site not exceeding 0.25 hectares) | £2 per tree or shrub |
Replacement or new single trees within a Designed Landscape or to enhance the rural landscape | £100 per tree |
Post & rail fence | £10 per metre |
Building/restoring drystone or flagstone dykes | £17.50 per square metre |
Sand blow fencing | £10.00 per metre |
Planting of marram grass into areas threatened with erosion | £8 per square metre |
Provision of water trough to replace traditional watering points | £195 each |
Installation of water supply pipe to water trough or pasture pump | £3 per metre of pipe laid |
Water trough pump: cattle operatedpasture or nose pump | £180 per installed pump |
Soil analysis (including sampling) | £24.90 per sample |
Planting or re-planting of hedge | £4.30 per metre |
Coppicing of hedge | £4.00 per metre |
Laying of hedge | £8.00 per metre |
Creation or restoration of a pond | £3.00 per square metre |
Laying down species-rich grassland | £680 per hectare |
Heather restoration (in black grouse core areas) | £250 per hectare |
Heather track creation for bog management | £1.50/ metre |
Peat dam | £0.26 per metre of moor grip to be blocked with peat dams. Minimum payment £300. |
Ditch blocking with plastic piling dams |
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Underdrain (or culvert) breaking | £20 per drain (or culvert) broken |
Watercourse Channel Enhancement | £4.00 per linear metre of watercourse |
Provision of bat or bird box | £15.00 per box |
Open range deer management to enhance the natural heritage | £3 per hectare of eligible deer range |
F96Environmental audit | 50% of costs up to a maximum of £200 per plan. |
Capital Item | Maximum Actual Cost |
---|---|
Primary treatment of bracken | Up to £400 per hectare of infested land |
Manual eradication of rhododendron | Up to £7,000 per hectare of infested land |
Mechanised (and / or chemical) eradication of rhododendron | Up to £1,700 per hectare of infested land |
Eradication of scrub / woody vegetation: | |
Light vegetation | Up to £1,800 per hectare |
Intermediate vegetation | Up to £2,550 per hectare |
Heavy vegetation | Up to £3,750 per hectare |
Removal from site of the cut shrub / woody vegetation: light vegetation cover | Up to £1,000 per hectare |
Removal from site of the cut shrub / woody vegetation: intermediate vegetation cover | Up to £2,100 per hectare |
Removal from site of the cut shrub / woody vegetation: heavy vegetation cover | Up to £2,900 per hectare |
Stock fence | Up to £8 per metre |
Enhancing / modifying a stock fence (in Black Grouse and Capercaillie core areas) | Up to £4 per metre |
Upgrading stock to deer fence | Up to £5.51 per metre |
Scare or temporary fencing | Up to £3 per metre |
Rabbit proofing – existing or new stock / deer fence | Up to £3.79 per metre |
Deer fence | Up to £13.79 per metre |
Enhancing / modifying a deer fence (in Black Grouse and Capercaillie core areas) | Up to £14.11 per metre |
Conversion of deer fence to stock fence (in Black Grouse and Capercaillie core areas) | Up to £4 per metre |
Fence removal | Up to £4 per metre |
Gate: | |
For stock fence | Up to £150 each |
For deer fence | Up to £255 each |
Stock bridge for bog management: | |
Small bridge | Up to £340 per bridge |
Large bridge (for ditch wider than 1.5m) | Up to £2,000 per bridge |
Sand blow fencing | Up to £20 per metre |
Planting of marram grass into areas threatened with erosion | Up to £16 per square metre |
Creation or restoration of a pond | Up to £6 per square metre |
Ditch blocking with plastic piling dams: | |
Small ditches (up to 0.5m wide & deep) | Up to £120 per dam |
Medium ditches (between 0.5m and 1m wide & deep) | Up to £240 per dam |
Large ditches (between 1m and 2m wide and 0.5m and 1m deep) | Up to £1027.40 per dam |
SCHEDULE 4
PART 1Historic Environment Condition
The damage or destruction of any feature or areas of historic or archaeological interest must be avoided and guidance approved by the Scottish Ministers must be followed for the protection of such features or areas M93.
PART 2Primary Legislation
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (c. 46).
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (c. 39).
The Clean Air Act 1993 (c. 11).
The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 (c. 9).
The Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 11).
The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6).
Secondary Legislation
The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 M94.
The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 M95.
The Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 M96.
The Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations 1994 M97.
The Ancient Monuments (Class Consents) (Scotland) Order 1996 M98.
The Pollution Prevention and Control (Scotland) Regulations 2000 M99.
The Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2000 M100.
The Action Programme for Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2003 M101.
The Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 M102.
The Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 M103.
The Plant Protection Products (Scotland) Regulations 2005 M104.
The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 M105.
The EC Fertilisers (Scotland) Regulations 2006 M106.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 M107.
1972 c. 68. Section 2(2) was amended by the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46), Schedule 8, paragraph 15(3) and the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51), section 27(1). The functions conferred upon the Minister of the Crown under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, insofar as within devolved competence, were transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998. Paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 was inserted by section 28 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006.