Liberal Democrat Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary Mike Rumbles MSP has blasted the SNP’s lack of support for the beleaguered pig industry. Mr Rumbles had lodged questions to the Scottish Government asking what steps were being taken to help pig farmers, including whether the SNP had proposed a pig compensation scheme to the European Commission.

The Rural Affairs Secretary has confirmed that the Scottish Government had not proposed a scheme.

Commenting, Mr Rumbles said:

“I am infuriated at the Government’s continued unwillingness to construct a proper aid package for beleaguered Scottish pig farmers. These answers reveal the astonishing truth that Ministers didn’t even try to construct a compensation scheme.

“The Rural Affairs Secretary defended his decision not to consider an aid package for Scottish pig farmers on the grounds that it would contravene EU competition regulations. This justification was exposed as utter nonsense when the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development approved the French Government’s aid scheme for pig farmers.

“The SNP cannot hide behind EU competition laws any longer. Ministers must construct an aid package to support our pig farmers. What we need now are no more excuses and hiding behind the EU, we need real action.”