The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2010

PART I S GENERAL

Citation, commencement, extent and application S

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2010 and come into force on 2nd July 2010.

(2) These Regulations extend to Scotland only.

(3) These Regulations apply to holdings in respect of which the Scottish Ministers are the competent authority, in accordance with the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Integrated Administration and Control System) Regulations 2009(1).

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 1 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Interpretation S

2.—(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

“actively farm” means to undertake a continuous activity which is, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, an agricultural activity and which is undertaken for a period or periods totalling not less than 183 days in the Scheme Year for which payment is to be made and “active farming” shall be construed accordingly;

“alpaca” means any alpaca of any breed which is kept by way of business for the primary purpose of fibre production;

“applicant” means a person who has made an application for less favoured area support;

“area aid application” has the same meaning as in Article 6 of Council Regulation (EEC) 3508/92 establishing an integrated administration and control system for certain Community aid schemes(2);

“authorised person” means a person who is authorised by the Scottish Ministers, either generally or specifically, to act in relation to matters arising under these Regulations;

“beef cow” means a female bovine animal which, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, is a breeding cow used primarily to produce calves for the purpose of beef production and aged 20 months or over;

“Council Regulation 1698/2005” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 1698/2005 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)(3);

[F1 “Commission Regulation 1975/2006” means Commission Regulation (EC) No 1975/2006 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation No 1698/2005, as regards the implementation of control procedures as well as cross-compliance in respect of rural development support measures;]

F2 ...

“Commission Regulation 1122/2009” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1122/2009 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 73/2009 as regards cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system, under the direct support schemes for farmers provided for that Regulation, as well as for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 as regards cross-compliance under the support scheme provided for the wine sector(4);

[F3 “Commission Regulation 65/2011” means Commission Regulation (EU) No. 65/2011 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;]

“common grazing” means any right in pasture or grazing land held or to be held by the applicant, whether alone or in common with others;

“competent authority” has the same meaning as in regulation 3 of the Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Integrated Administration and Control System) Regulations 2009;

“Council Regulation 73/2009” means Council Regulation (EC) No. 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(5);

“cross border holding” means a holding in the United Kingdom which is situated partly in Scotland;

“cross compliance” has the same meaning as it has for the purposes of Article 5 and Annex II as amended from time to time and Article 6 and Annex III of Council Regulation 73/2009;

“dairy activity” means maintaining a dairy herd;

“dairy cow” means a female bovine animal which, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, is a breeding cow maintained primarily for the purpose of milk production and aged over 20 months;

“dairy ring fence area” has the meaning given in Schedule 1;

“designated maps” means the four maps numbered 1 to 4, each such map being marked “Map of less-favoured farming areas in Scotland”, dated 5th May 1991, signed by the Secretary of State for Scotland and deposited at the offices of the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD;

“eligible land” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 5;

“farmed deer” means any deer of any species which is kept on eligible land enclosed by a deer proof barrier and kept by way of business for the primary purpose of meat production;

“forage area” means the area of the holding available to the applicant throughout the Scheme Year for rearing livestock including areas in shared use and areas subject to mixed cultivation but not including buildings, woods, ponds and paths;

“goat” means any goat (of any breed) which is kept by way of business for the primary purpose of fibre production;

“holding” has the same meaning as it has for the purpose of Article 2(b) of Council Regulation 73/2009;

“key dates” for sheep means 1st January and for other livestock means 1st January and 30th June;

“less favoured area” means the land shown coloured in blue or in pink on the designated maps—

(a)

which is situated in an area included in the list of less favoured farming areas adopted by Council Directive 84/169/EEC concerning the Community list of less-favoured farming areas within the meaning of Directive 75/268/EEC (United Kingdom)(6); and

(b)

which is, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, inherently suitable for extensive livestock production but not for the production of crops in quantity materially greater than that necessary to feed such livestock as are capable of being maintained on such land, and whose agricultural production is, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, restricted in its range by, or by any combination of, soil, relief, aspect or climate;

“livestock” means a beef cow, a dairy cow, a sheep, a goat, a farmed deer, an alpaca or a llama;

“livestock unit” means a unit of measurement of livestock numbers, and each of the following constitute one livestock unit—

(a)

one beef cow over 24 months of age;

(b)

1.66 beef cows over 20 months and up to and including 24 months of age;

(c)

within the dairy ring fence area, one dairy cow over 24 months of age;

(d)

within the dairy ring fence area, 1.66 dairy cows over 20 months and up to and including 24 months of age;

(e)

6.66 breeding ewes or gimmers;

(f)

6.66 breeding female goats kept as part of a regular breeding herd for fibre production;

(g)

3.33 breeding female farmed deer aged 27 months and over;

(h)

5 breeding female farmed deer aged over 6 months but less than 27 months of age;

(i)

3.33 breeding female alpaca kept as part of a regular breeding herd;

(j)

3.33 breeding female llamas kept as part of a regular breeding herd;

“llama” means any llama of any breed which is kept by way of business for the primary purpose of fibre production;

“maximum stocking density” means 1.40 livestock units per hectare;

[F4 “minimum stocking density” has the meaning given in regulation 9(1A), (1B) and (1C) and Part III of Schedule 4;]

“payable area” means the area of land on which less favoured area support is to be paid, calculated in accordance with regulation 8 and, adjusted where appropriate, in accordance with regulation 10;

“Scheme Year” means a calendar year commencing on 1st January;

“Scheme 2005 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2004 under the 2005 Regulations;

“Scheme 2006 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2005 under the 2005 Regulations;

“Scheme 2007 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2007 to 31st December 2007 under the 2007 Regulations;

“Scheme 2008 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008 under the 2007 Regulations;

“Scheme 2009 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009 under the 2007 Regulations and “Scheme Year 2009” shall be construed accordingly;

“Scheme 2010 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2010;

“Scheme 2011 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2011;

“Scheme 2012 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2012;

“Scheme 2013 payment” means the sum to which the applicant is entitled in respect of the period from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2013;

“shared grazing” means land used for grazing within a field used by two or more producers;

“sheep” means breeding ewes or gimmers, kept by way of business for the primary purpose of meat production;

“single application” has the meaning given in Article 2(11) of Commission Regulation 1122/2009(7);

“the 2003 Regulations” means the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2003(8);

“the 2005 Regulations” means the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2005(9); and

“the 2007 Regulations” means the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2007(10).

(2) Any 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(11) (general interpretation), which has been recorded and is consequently capable of being reproduced.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (9.3.2012) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/24), regs. 1, 3

F2 Words in reg. 2(1) omitted (14.3.2011) by virtue of The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 3(a)

F3 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 3(b)

F4 Words in reg. 2(1) substituted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 3(c)

Commencement Information

I2 Reg. 2 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

PART II S ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for payment of less favoured area support S

3.—(1) Payment of less favoured area support may be made to an applicant in respect of a Scheme Year only if—

(a) subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), that applicant has given an undertaking to continue to use eligible land for a period of not less than five years from the first payment made under—

(i) these Regulations;

(ii) the 2007 Regulations; or

(iii) the 2005 Regulations; and

(b) that applicant has, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, met the requirements of cross compliance on the applicant’s holding throughout the Scheme Year.

(2) An applicant may be released from the undertaking referred to in paragraph (1)(a)—

(a) if the applicant has, during the period for which the undertaking was given, transferred all or part of the holding to another person and that person agrees to take over the undertaking;

(b) if the applicant has, during the period for which the undertaking was given, transferred all or part of the holding to an organisation, which in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, has the main objective of nature conservation and where the transfer is for the principle purpose of securing a permanent change of land use into nature conservation with an associated benefit to the environment; or

(c) if, in the opinion of Scottish Ministers, the applicant is prevented from continuing to discharge that undertaking by reason of any material circumstances beyond the control of that person.

(3) In the event that the applicant has ceased farming and the person to whom all or part of the holding has been transferred does not agree to be bound by the undertaking referred to in paragraph (1)(a), the Scottish Ministers may, if satisfied that the applicant has, at the time of the cessation of farming, honoured a significant proportion of the undertaking, release the applicant from that undertaking.

Commencement Information

I3 Reg. 3 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Payment of less favoured area support S

4.  The Scottish Ministers may, on such occasions as they consider fit, in respect of the Scheme Year in question pay less favoured area support to an applicant who actively farms eligible land which is not less than 3 hectares.

Commencement Information

I4 Reg. 4 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Eligible land S

5.— [F5 (1) Eligible land comprises the number of hectares of forage area in a less favoured area, as declared by the applicant in a single application in respect of the Scheme Year to which payment relates, with—

(a) a less favoured area grazing category—

(i) attributed to it by the Scottish Ministers prior to 1st January 2007; or

(ii) if no grazing category was attributed by the Scottish Ministers prior to 1st January 2007, a grazing category attributed by the Scottish Ministers by reference to the stocking density calculated in accordance with regulation 9(4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 4; and

(b) one of the land use codes specified in column 2 of Schedule 2 corresponding to the entry in column 1 of Schedule 2 relating to the use of land.]

as declared by the applicant in a single application in respect of the Scheme Year to which payment relates.

(2) Eligible land includes land in respect of which the applicant has a right of use pursuant to a short term let, seasonal grazing or common grazing or other such arrangement.

(3) If an application for less favoured area support relates to land situated outwith the dairy ring fence area and all or part of that land was used for dairy activity in the Scheme Year 2009 or in the first year of application, where the applicant did not submit a single application or claim less favoured area support in or prior to 2009, the Scottish Ministers shall determine the area of ineligible land attributable to dairy activity.

(4) The ineligible area referred to in paragraph (3) shall be deducted from the eligible area identified in accordance with paragraph (1).

Textual Amendments

F5 Reg. 5(1) substituted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 4

Commencement Information

I5 Reg. 5 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Transfer of a holding S

6.—(1) A decision by the Scottish Ministers to make a payment under regulation 4 must be in accordance with Article 82 of Commission Regulation 1122/2009.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 6 of Article 82 of Commission Regulation 1122/2009, the Scottish Ministers must grant less favoured area support to the transferor of a holding if—

(a) the transferor has been in continuous occupation of the holding for a period of not less than 183 calendar days in the Scheme Year concerned; and

(b) the requirements of paragraphs 2 to 5 of Article 82 of Commission Regulation 1122/2009 have, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, been fulfilled.

Commencement Information

I6 Reg. 6 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

PART III S CALCULATION OF LESS FAVOURED AREA SUPPORT

Amount of less favoured area support S

7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and regulation 12, the amount of less favoured area support is calculated in accordance with the following formula:—

Where—

• LFAS is the amount of less favoured area support payable;

• P is the payable area; and

• R is the rate of payment determined in accordance with regulation 11.

(2) Where an applicant has eligible land in more than one grazing category (as determined for the purposes of regulation 8) then—

(a) the calculation in paragraph (1) is applied in respect of the total area of eligible land in each grazing category and, for the purposes of each calculation—

(i) P is the payable area of land in each grazing category; and

(ii) R is the rate of payment for each type of grazing category determined in accordance with regulation 11; and

(b) the total amount of less favoured area support payable is the sum of the calculations in respect of each grazing category.

Commencement Information

I7 Reg. 7 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Determination of Unadjusted Payable Area S

8.—(1) The unadjusted payable area is the total of the areas of eligible land of the applicant in each grazing category, calculated in accordance with the following formula—

Where—

• P is the unadjusted payable area;

• Subject to regulation 9(2) and (3), E is the area of eligible land in each field or shared grazing in the Scheme Year for which payment is to be made; and

• V is the hectare value for each field or shared grazing determined in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1), the hectare value is the entry in the third column of Schedule 3 corresponding to the grazing category in the second column of that Schedule.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, the grazing category of each field or shared grazing of the applicant is the entry in the second column of Schedule 3 corresponding to the entry in the first column of that Schedule relating to the base year stocking density of each field or shared grazing.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the “base year stocking density” for each field or shared grazing is either—

(a) the stocking density that was determined for that field or shared grazing by paragraphs (4) to (12) of regulation 9 of the 2003 Regulations following upon an application for less favoured area support under those Regulations; or

(b) where no stocking density was determined under regulation 9 of the 2003 Regulations for a field or shared grazing, the stocking density figure determined by the Scottish Ministers under regulation 9(5) of the 2005 Regulations for that part of the land of the applicant on or before 31st December 2006 [F6 ; or

(c) where no stocking density was determined for a field or shared grazing under regulation 9 of the 2003 Regulations or under regulation 9(5) of the 2005 Regulations, the stocking density figure determined for the applicant in accordance with regulation 9(4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 4].

Textual Amendments

F6 Reg. 8(4)(c) and word inserted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 5

Commencement Information

I8 Reg. 8 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Stocking density outwith the minimum and maximum stocking density parameters S

9.—(1) The provisions of this regulation apply where the stocking density calculated in accordance with paragraph (4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 4 is either less than the minimum stocking density or greater than the maximum stocking density.

[F7 (1A) Subject to paragraphs (1B) and (1C), the minimum stocking density is the entry in the second column in Part III of Schedule 4 corresponding to the grazing category in the first column of that Part of that Schedule.

(1B) Where an applicant has eligible land which comprises land falling into more than one grazing category (as determined for the purposes of regulation 8), the minimum stocking density is the sum (to two decimal places) of the minimum stocking densities for each grazing category calculated in accordance with paragraph (1C).

(1C) The minimum stocking density for each grazing category is the proportion of the minimum stocking density (as set out in the second column in Part III of Schedule 4 corresponding to the grazing category in the first column of that Schedule) that the land in the grazing category represents in relation to the overall eligible land.]

(2) Where the stocking density calculated in accordance with paragraph (4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 4 is less than the minimum stocking density, the eligible land for the purposes of the calculation in regulation 8(1) is the number of hectares calculated in accordance with the following formula—

Where—

• E1 is the area of eligible land adjusted in accordance with this regulation;

• F is the total area of eligible land of the applicant;

• S is the stocking density calculated for the applicant in accordance with paragraph (4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 4; and

• M is the minimum stocking density.

(3) Where the stocking density calculated in accordance with paragraph (4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 4 is greater than the maximum stocking density, the eligible land for the purposes of the calculation in regulation 8(1) is the number of hectares calculated in accordance with the following formula—

Where—

• E2 is the area of eligible land adjusted in accordance with this regulation;

• F is the total area of eligible land of the applicant;

• M is the maximum stocking density; and

• S is the stocking density calculated for the applicant in accordance with paragraph (4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 4.

(4) For the purpose of [F8 regulation 5(1)(a)(ii), regulation 8(4)(c) and] paragraphs (1), (2) and (3), the stocking density is to be calculated in accordance with Parts I and II of Schedule 4, using—

(a) livestock units based on the number of livestock which the Scottish Ministers determine were maintained by the applicant—

(i) in 2009, where the applicant maintained livestock on eligible land declared in a single application in 2009; or

(ii) in the first year of application for less favoured area support where the applicant did not submit a single application or claim less favoured area support in or prior to 2009; and

(b) the historic land area.

(5) In determining the number of livestock for the purposes of paragraph (4)(a), the Scottish Ministers must have regard to the livestock numbers declared by the applicant as being maintained by the applicant on eligible land on key dates in 2009 or the first year of application for less favoured area support, where the applicant did not submit a single application or claim less favoured area support in or prior to 2009.

(6) Where—

(a) an applicant has land in more than one grazing category (as determined for the purposes of regulation 8); and

(b) eligible land, for the purpose of the calculation in regulation 8(1), for that applicant has been reduced under paragraph (2) or (3),

the Scottish Ministers must apply that reduction in eligible land proportionately to the total of the eligible land in each grazing category for the purpose of the calculation in regulation 8(1).

(7) Where the stocking density calculated in accordance with paragraph (4) was less than the minimum stocking density due to the culling of the stock on the land in question in the context of the control of an outbreak of an epizootic disease—

(a) during 2009; or

(b) where the applicant did not submit a single application or claim less favoured area support in or prior to 2009, the first year of application,

the applicant may request that the Scottish Ministers determine the stocking density to be used for the purposes of the formula at paragraph (2).

[F9 (8) For the purposes of this regulation and Part II of Schedule 4, “historic land area” means—

(a) the area of eligible land declared by the applicant in a single application in 2009 or in the first year of application where the applicant did not submit a single application or claim less favoured area support in or prior to 2009; or

(b) land comprising the number of hectares of forage in a less favoured area, as declared by the applicant in a single application in relation to 2009 and having one of the land use codes specified in column 2 of Schedule 2 corresponding to the entry in column 1 of Schedule 2 relating to the use of land, where no less favoured area grazing category was attributed for the purposes of the 2003 Regulations, the 2005 Regulations or the 2007 Regulations,

prior to deduction of either or both of—

(i) any penalty area calculated in accordance with Commission Regulation 1975/2006 or Commission Regulation 65/2011; and

(ii) any area deducted in accordance with regulation 6(5) of the 2007   Regulations.]

Textual Amendments

F7 Reg. 9(1A)-(1C) inserted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 6(a)

F8 Words in reg. 9(4) inserted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 6(b)

F9 Reg. 9(8) substituted (9.3.2012) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/24), regs. 1, 4

Commencement Information

I9 Reg. 9 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Enterprise mix S

10.—(1)  [F10 Subject to paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5)], where at least 10% of the livestock units of the applicant, calculated in accordance with regulation 9(4) and Part I of Schedule 4, are cattle, the unadjusted payable area calculated in accordance with regulation 8 is to be adjusted in accordance with this regulation and the following formula—

Where—

• P1 is the payable area;

• P2 is the unadjusted payable area calculated in accordance with regulation 8; and

• Z is the hectare multiplier contained in the second column of Schedule 8 corresponding to the proportion of livestock units (calculated in accordance with regulation 9(4) and Part I of Schedule 4) which are cattle contained in the first column of Schedule 8.

(2) Where the number of sheep used to calculate livestock units for the purposes of regulation 9(4) and Part I of Schedule 4 is lower than—

(a) the number of sheep used to calculate livestock units for the purposes of the Scheme 2006 payment; or

(b) where an applicant did not receive a Scheme 2006 payment, the number of sheep used to calculate livestock units for the purposes of the Scheme 2005 payment,

and the hectare multiplier contained in the second column of Schedule 8, corresponding to the proportion of livestock units (calculated in accordance with regulation 9(4) and Part I of Schedule 4) which are cattle contained in the first column of Schedule 8, is higher than the hectare multiplier established for the purposes of the Scheme 2006 payment or, the Scheme 2005 payment as appropriate, then that hectare multiplier can only apply for the purposes of the Scheme 2010 payment, the Scheme 2011 payment, the Scheme 2012 payment or the Scheme 2013 payment if the number of cattle used to calculate livestock units for the purposes of regulation 9(4) and Part I of Schedule 4 is greater than the number of cattle used to calculate livestock units for the purposes of the Scheme 2006 payment or the Scheme 2005 payment as appropriate.

[F11 (3) Where the hectare multiplier contained in the second column of Schedule 8 to be used for the purposes of the formula in paragraph (1) is, in the opinion of the applicant, unrepresentative of the usual enterprise mix of the applicant, as a result of the culling of cattle on the land in question in the context of the control of an outbreak of an epizootic disease—

(a) during 2009; or

(b) where the applicant did not submit a single application or claim less favoured area support in or prior to 2009, the first year of application,

the applicant may request that the Scottish Ministers determine that either of the hectare multipliers contained in the second column of Schedule 8 be used for the purposes of the formula in paragraph (1).]

[F12 (4) Where less than 10% of the livestock units of the applicant calculated in accordance with regulation 9(4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 4 are cattle but that is, in the opinion of the applicant, the result of the culling of cattle on the land in question in the context of the control of an outbreak of epizootic disease—

(a) during 2009; or

(b) where the applicant did not submit a single application or claim less favoured area support in or prior to 2009, the first year of application,

the applicant may request that the Scottish Ministers treat the application as if paragraph (1) applied.

(5) Following a request made under paragraph (4), the Scottish Ministers may—

(a) treat the application as if paragraph (1) applied; and

(b) determine that either of the hectare multipliers contained in the second column of Schedule 8 be used for the purposes of the formula in paragraph (1).]

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in reg. 10(1) substituted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 7(a)

F11 Reg. 10(3) substituted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 7(b)

F12 Reg. 10(4)(5) inserted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 7(c)

Commencement Information

I10 Reg. 10 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Rate of payment of less favoured area support S

11.—(1) Where for the purposes of regulation 8, the grazing category of land, as specified in Schedule 3, is A or B, the rate of payment of less favoured area support for the purposes of regulation 7 is the rate per hectare of the unadjusted payable area set out in the entry in the second column in Part I (More Disadvantaged Land) of Schedule 5 corresponding to the fragility category in the first column of that Part of that Schedule applicable to the applicant in terms of paragraph (3).

(2) Where, for the purposes of regulation 8, the grazing category of land, as specified in Schedule 3, is C or D, the rate of payment of less favoured area support for the purposes of regulation 7 is the rate per hectare of the unadjusted payable area set out in the entry in the second column in Part II (Less Disadvantaged Land) of Schedule 5 corresponding to the fragility category in the first column of that Part of that Schedule applicable to the applicant in terms of paragraph (3).

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), the fragility category applicable to the applicant is determined by the code of the parish in which the main farm of the applicant is situated as set out in Schedule 6.

(4) For the purpose of paragraph (3), the code of the parish in which the main farm is situated is the first digit or the first two or three digits as appropriate of the applicant’s main farm code.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation, “main farm code” means the code attributed by the Scottish Ministers to the farm which the applicant considers is the applicant’s main farm for the purposes of the applicant’s single application.

Commencement Information

I11 Reg. 11 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

[F13 Minimum payment S

12.   The minimum amount of less favoured area support payable by the Scottish Ministers under these Regulations (prior to the deduction of any penalty under Commission Regulation 65/2011) is £385 in respect of a Scheme Year.]

Textual Amendments

F13 Reg. 12 substituted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 8

PART IV S ENFORCEMENT

Powers of authorised persons S

13.—(1) An authorised person may, at all reasonable hours and on producing if so required a duly authenticated document showing the authority of that person, exercise the powers specified in this regulation for the purposes of—

(a) verification of the accuracy of an application by carrying out administrative and periodic checks which a Member State is required to carry out under [F14 Articles 11, 12 and 20 of Commission Regulation 65/2011]; or

(b) ascertaining whether an offence under these Regulations has been or is being committed, and in doing so may be accompanied by a person assigned to assist the authorised person for those purposes.

(2) An authorised person may enter any land or premises (other than dwellinghouses not being used for a purpose relevant to these Regulations).

(3) An authorised person who has entered any land or premises by virtue of this regulation may—

(a) inspect and verify the total area of such land;

(b) inspect and count livestock on such land and require the applicant to arrange for the collection of animals, penning and securing;

(c) require production of and examine any records in whatever form, and take copies of those records;

(d) remove and retain any document or other record referred to in sub-paragraph (c) which may be required for use as evidence in proceedings under these Regulations; and

(e) inspect and verify that the applicant has complied with the requirements of cross compliance.

(4) An authorised person may require any records mentioned in paragraph (3)(c) which are kept by means of a computer or any associated apparatus or material to be produced in a visible and legible form in which they may be taken away.

Textual Amendments

F14 Words in reg. 13(1)(a) substituted (14.3.2011) by The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/73), regs. 1, 9

Commencement Information

I12 Reg. 13 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Assistance to authorised persons S

14.  An applicant, employee or agent of an applicant or any person having, or appearing to have, charge of animals on the land must give to an authorised person such assistance as the authorised person may reasonably request so as to enable that person to exercise any power conferred by regulation 13.

Commencement Information

I13 Reg. 14 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Withholding or recovery of less favoured area support S

15.  The Scottish Ministers may withhold or recover the whole or any part of any payment of less favoured area support payable or paid to an applicant in any of the following circumstances—

(a) where the applicant fails to comply with the terms of an undertaking given by that applicant pursuant to regulation 3(1)(a) from which the applicant has not been released under regulation 3(2) or (3);

(b) where the applicant, or an employee or agent of the applicant intentionally obstructs an authorised person in exercise of the powers under regulation 13, or fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement or request made by an authorised person under regulation 13 or 14;

(c) where, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, the applicant has failed to act in accordance with cross compliance on or in relation to the holding; or

(d) where, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, the applicant has failed to comply with the requirement in regulation 4 to actively farm eligible land.

Commencement Information

I14 Reg. 15 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Guidance S

16.—(1) The Scottish Ministers may publish guidance from time to time on—

(a) the circumstances in which they will normally withhold or recover any sums under regulation 15, and the amount which any sums withheld 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.

Commencement Information

I15 Reg. 16 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Rate of interest S

17.  For the purpose of Article 80 of Commission Regulation 1122/2009, interest shall be charged at the rate of one percentage point above the sterling three month London Interbank Offered Rate on a day-to-day basis for the period specified in that Article.

Commencement Information

I16 Reg. 17 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Cross border holdings S

18.  Schedule 7 applies to agency arrangements and to cross border holdings.

Commencement Information

I17 Reg. 18 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Offences S

19.—(1) Any person who, for the purposes of obtaining for the benefit of that or any other person part of, or the whole of, a payment of less favoured area support under these Regulations, knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false in any material particular, is guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person who intentionally obstructs an authorised person (or a person assisting that authorised person in accordance with regulation 14) in the exercise of the powers conferred by regulation 13 is guilty of an offence.

(3) Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a requirement made under regulation 13 or request under regulation 14 is guilty of an offence.

Commencement Information

I18 Reg. 19 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Penalties S

20.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 19(1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under regulation 19(3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Commencement Information

I19 Reg. 20 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Time limit for prosecutions S

21.—(1) Summary proceedings for an offence under regulation 19 may be commenced within the period of 12 months from the date on which the offence was committed.

(2) Subsection (3) of section 136 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 (date of commencement of proceedings)(12) applies for the purposes of this regulation as it applies for the purposes of that section.

Commencement Information

I20 Reg. 21 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Offences by bodies corporate S

22.—(1) Where—

(a) an offence under these Regulations has been committed by a body corporate or a Scottish partnership or other unincorporated association;

(b) it is proved that the offence was committed with the consent or connivance of, or was attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(i) a relevant individual; or

(ii) an individual purporting to act in the capacity of a relevant individual,

the individual as well as the offender is guilty of the offence and is liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) In paragraph (1), “relevant individual” means—

(a) in relation to a body corporate—

(i) a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body;

(ii) where the affairs of the body are managed by its members, the members;

(b) in relation to a Scottish partnership, a partner;

(c) in relation to an unincorporated association other than a Scottish partnership, a person who is concerned in the management or control of the association.

Commencement Information

I21 Reg. 22 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

PART V S MISCELLANEOUS

Appeal against decision as to eligibility of holding S

23.—(1) An applicant may, no later than 60 days following the date of intimation of the Scottish Ministers’ decision as to the eligibility of the holding under regulation 5, make an application in writing to the Scottish Ministers to have that decision reviewed by persons appointed by the Scottish Ministers for that purpose.

(2) An application under this regulation is to be treated as made if it is received by the Scottish Ministers.

(3) The application must be accompanied by such information as the persons appointed consider necessary.

(4) Such persons appointed under paragraph (1) must review the decision and notify their determination to the Scottish Ministers, and by recorded delivery mail to the applicant, within 10 days of reaching that determination.

(5) Subject to regulation 24, the determination of such persons appointed is binding on the Scottish Ministers.

(6) The Scottish Ministers may make such payment, by way of fee or reimbursement of expenses, to any such persons appointed under paragraph (1), as appears to them to be appropriate.

Commencement Information

I22 Reg. 23 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Review S

24.—(1) An applicant may apply to the Scottish Ministers in writing for review of the determination referred to in regulation 23(4).

(2) The applicant must apply to the Scottish Ministers for review within 60 days of the notification of the determination to the applicant in accordance with regulation 23(4).

(3) On an application for a review under this regulation, the Scottish Ministers must refer the matter to a person appointed by the Chair of the Scottish Branch of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to carry out the functions in paragraph (4).

(4) The person appointed under paragraph (3) must review the determination referred to in regulation 23(4) and may—

(a) consider any document or other evidence produced by the applicant or the Scottish Ministers (whether or not that document or other evidence was available at the time of the determination);

(b) invite the applicant and the Scottish Ministers to provide such further information relevant to the review as the person appointed considers appropriate; and

(c) give the applicant and the Scottish Ministers an opportunity to give evidence or to make representations in person or through a representative.

(5) The person appointed to review the determination must make a decision confirming or revoking that determination, and notify that decision to the Scottish Ministers and to the applicant in writing.

(6) The person appointed is entitled to require the reasonable costs of the review to be paid by such party as that person may direct, and the person appointed must determine the amount of such costs.

Commencement Information

I23 Reg. 24 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Amendment of the Rural Payments (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 S

25.—(1) The Rural Payments (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2009(13) are amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In the Schedule (relevant decisions)—

(a) for paragraph 13 substitute—

“13.   A decision of the Scottish Ministers under regulation 4(1)(b), 5, 7(1), 9(4)(b), 10(7), 11(4) or 16 of the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2007(14).”; and

(b) after paragraph 13 insert—

“13A.   A decision by the Scottish Ministers under regulation 3(1)(b), 3(2), 3(3), 4, 5(3), 9(4)(a), 9(7), 10(3) or 15 of the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2010.”.

Commencement Information

I24 Reg. 25 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

Revocation and savings provisions S

26.—(1) Subject to the savings referred to in paragraph (2), the 2007 Regulations (except regulation 26(2)), the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008(15) and the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009(16) are revoked.

(2) In respect of a Scheme 2007 payment, a Scheme 2008 payment or a Scheme 2009 payment within the meaning of the 2007 Regulations, the 2007 Regulations, the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008 and the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009 shall continue to have effect as if those Regulations had not been revoked.

Commencement Information

I25 Reg. 26 in force at 2.7.2010, see reg. 1(1)

RICHARD LOCHHEAD

A member of the Scottish Executive

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh