The Land Managers Skills Development Grants (Scotland) Regulations 2008

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations establish a framework for the payment in Scotland of grants towards training initiatives aimed at improving the skills of individuals involved in forestry or the management or use of agricultural land in Scotland.

They supplement Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 which lays down general rules governing Community support for rural development, financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development established by Council Regulation (EC) No. 1290/2005 (O.J. No. L 209, 11.8.2005, p.1.). They also implement Article 74(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 and Article 9(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1290/2005, which require Member States to adopt legislative and administrative provisions to ensure that the Community’s financial interests in relation to expenditure on rural development are effectively protected.

Regulation 3 sets out the general conditions which must be satisfied before a project may be considered for grant under these Regulations.

Regulation 4 sets out what project costs a grant under these Regulations can support.

Regulation 5 sets out the list of eligible bodies who can apply for grant.

Regulation 6 makes provision for determining grant applications.

Regulation 7 gives the Scottish Ministers power to make payments of grant under the Regulations.

Regulation 8 gives the Scottish Ministers power to issue guidance on applying for grant, the costs which may be supported by grant under the Regulations, and generally how the Scottish Ministers intend to perform their functions under the Regulations.

Regulation 9 provides for the retention of information and records by applicants.

Regulation 10 confers powers of entry and inspection on authorised persons to enforce the Regulations.

Regulation 11 makes provision for the revocation and variation of approval and the withholding or recovery of grants.

Regulation 12 makes provision for the payment of interest on grants recovered under regulation 11.

Regulation 13 creates offences of knowingly or recklessly making a false statement to obtain grants or obstructing authorised persons acting under the Regulations.

Regulation 14 makes provision for offences under regulation 13 committed by bodies corporate.