17.This section requires the Scottish Ministers to prepare, lay before the Scottish Parliament and publish a rural support plan (RSP) setting out their strategic priorities for support over the coming five years, along with details of each scheme that is in operation or is expected to come into operation during that period. It is expected that this 5-year cycle will broadly coincide with the parliamentary terms. Once the RSP is in force, the Scottish Ministers are required to have regard to it in the exercise of their functions under the Act.
18.The Scottish Ministers can amend the plan if their strategic priorities change during the period or it appears to them that any information given in the plan is inaccurate or incomplete. This is designed to enable the RSP to be changed in light of any significant events (such as an energy crisis or conflict) which have a major impact on the support required. In those circumstances they must again lay the plan before Parliament and publish it. However, subsection (8) confirms that an amended plan does not change the 5-year cycle.
19.Subsection (2) sets out the matters that the plan must cover, including—
what 5-year period the plan applies to (“the plan period”) as calculated by reference to subsection (7),
the Scottish Ministers’ strategic priorities,
an overview of the support that the Scottish Ministers expect to provide over the plan period. This will include what the Scottish Ministers think will be the available funding over the period and how that funding will be divided between different schemes. It will also include any measures that are intended to benefit small producers, tenant farmers and crofters and any other specific outcomes that the Scottish Ministers are seeking to achieve within the plan period (for example, encouraging the adoption of a particular practice).
20.Subsection (3) sets out other matters that the plan may include. These matters primarily focus on environmental objectives and how the Scottish Ministers consider the support expected to be provided under the plan will achieve them. It is not mandatory for the plan to include this material. The plan may also include such other information as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate. The list of matters that may be included in a rural support plan may be adjusted by the Scottish Ministers making regulations under subsection (11).