The Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2005

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2005 and shall come into force on 12th March 2005.

(2) In these Regulations “principal Regulations” means the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2004(1).

Amendment of the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2004

2.  The principal Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 16.

Amendment of regulation 2

3.  In regulation 2 (interpretation)–

(a) in paragraph (1)–

(i) omit the definitions of “agri environment scheme”, “Commission”(2) Regulation 445/2002” and “retirement pension” are omitted;

(ii) after the definition of “alpaca” insert ““animal” means any animal (including fish, reptiles or amphibians) bred or kept for the production of food, wool, skin or fur or for other farming purposes;”;

(iii) after the definition of “Commission Regulation 2419/2001”(3) insert ““Commission Regulation 817/2004” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 817/2004 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)(4);”;

(iv) in the definition of “common grazing” for “Commission Regulation 445/2002” substitute “Commission Regulation 817/2004”;

(v) in the definition of “less favoured area” for “Directive 75/268/EEC (United Kingdom)(5) substitute “Article 21 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 950/97(6)”

(vi) after the definition of “Scheme 2004 payment” insert ““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;”;

(vii) after the definition of “shared grazing” insert ““Sheep Annual Premium Scheme” means the Sheep Annual Premium Regulations 1992(7);”; and

(viii) after the definition of “suckler cow” insert ““Suckler Cow Premium Scheme” means the Suckler Cow Premium (Scotland) Regulations 2001(8);”; and

(b) in paragraph (3) after “as defined in” insert “section 15 of”.

Amendment of regulation 4

4.  In regulation 4 (eligibility for payment of less favoured area support)–

(a) in paragraph (1), in each of sub paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) for “eligible land” substitute “holding”;

(b) for paragraph (2) substitute–

“(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, where the applicant has ceased farming during the period for which the undertaking was given, the applicant’s successor agrees to take over the undertaking; or

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

(c) for paragraph (3) substitute–

“(3) In the event that the applicant has ceased farming and the applicant’s successor does not agree to be bound by the undertaking referred to in paragraph (1), 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.”.

Amendment of regulation 9

5.  In regulation 9 (determination of payable area) in paragraph (1) for “2003” substitute “2004”.

Amendment of regulation 10

6.  In regulation 10 (stocking density outwith maximum and minimum parameters)–

(a) for paragraph (1) substitute–

• “The following provisions of this regulation shall apply for the purposes of the Scheme 2005 payment where the stocking density calculated in accordance with paragraph (4) and Parts I and II of Schedule 1 based on eligible agricultural activity undertaken in the calendar year 2004 is either less than the minimum stocking density or greater than the maximum stocking density–

  (a)

  at the start of the retention period where eligibility rests on livestock claimed under the Sheep Annual Premium Scheme;

  (b)

  at the start of the retention period where eligibility rests on livestock claimed under the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme;

  (c)

  during the calendar year 2004 where eligibility rests on livestock declared separately in an application for less favoured area support; or

  (d)

  in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers where eligibility must be determined from a combination of livestock described in sub-paragraphs (a) to (c) above.”; and

(b) in paragraphs (2) and (3) for “2003” wherever that year occurs, substitute “2004”.

Amendment of regulation 11

7.  In regulation 11 (enterprise mix), in paragraph (1) for “2003” substitute “the calendar year 2004”.

Amendment of regulation 12

8.  In regulation 12 (rate of payment of less favoured area support)–

(a) in paragraph (2) for “Part 1” substitute “Part I”; and

(b) in paragraph (3) for “Part 2” substitute “Part II”.

Amendment of regulation 13

9.  In regulation 13 (minimum payment) for “Scheme 2004 payment” substitute “Scheme 2005 payment”.

Amendment of regulation 14

10.  In regulation 14(1)(a) (powers of authorised persons) for “Articles 59 to 61 of Commission Regulation 445/2002” substitute “Articles 67 to 69 of Commission Regulation 817/2004”.

Amendment of regulation 15

11.  In regulation 15 (assistance to authorised persons) after “having” insert “, or appearing to have,”.

Amendment of regulation 16

12.  In regulation 16 (withholding or recovery of less favoured area support) in each of paragraphs (c) and (d) for “eligible land” substitute “the holding”.

Amendment of regulation 24

13.  For regulation 24 (appeal against decision as to eligibility of holding) substitute–

“24.— (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 6(1), 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) shall review the decision and notify their determination to the Scottish Ministers and the applicant, by recorded delivery mail, within 10 days of reaching that determination.

(5) Subject to regulation 25, the determination of such persons appointed shall be 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.”.

Amendment of regulation 25

14.  In regulation 25(4)(a) after “the Scottish Ministers” insert “(whether or not that document or other evidence was available at the time of the said determination)”.

Amendment of Schedule 2

15.  In Schedule 2 (usual good farming practices)–

(a) in Part I–

(i) after paragraph 1 insert–

“1A.   The Water (Prevention of Pollution) (Code of Practice) (Scotland) Order 2005(9).”;

• and

(ii) after paragraph 13 insert–

“Animal Welfare

14.   The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2000(10).”;

• and

(b) in Part II–

(i) in paragraph 6 after “being overgrazed” insert “or undergrazed”; and

(ii) after paragraph 7 insert–

“8.   Animals must not be caused any unnecessary pain or suffering and must be inspected at regular intervals. Animals kept in buildings must have access to a well maintained drying area. Animal buildings must be constructed in such a way that will not be harmful to animals. Where necessary artificial light must be provided and animals must not be kept without an appropriate rest from artificial light. Animals must be fed a diet of sufficient quality and quantity to maintain them in good health and to satisfy their nutritional needs. All animals must have access to feed at appropriate intervals (at least once a day) and a suitable water supply or be able to satisfy their fluid intake needs by other means. Animals must not have their movement restricted in such a way as to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury.

9.   Only those persons who have the appropriate ability, knowledge and professional competence may attend to animals.

10.   Ill or injured animals must be cared for appropriately and without delay and, where necessary, veterinary advice must be obtained as soon as possible. Records must be kept and retained for 3 years of all medicinal treatment given to animals and of all mortalities.”.

Amendment of Schedule 8

16.  In Schedule 8 (agency and cross border holdings), paragraph 1 omit “(as defined for the purposes of the Integrated Administration and Control System Regulations 1993(11))”.

Savings provision

17.  Notwithstanding regulation 2, in respect of a Scheme 2004 payment, within the meaning of the principal Regulations, the principal Regulations shall continue to have effect as if the amendments made by these Regulations had not been made.

ROSS FINNIE

A member of the Scottish Executive

St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh

8th February 2005