Scottish Budget 2022 to 2023

The Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government’s proposed spending and tax plans for 2022 to 2023, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.


Chapter 10 Rural Affairs & Islands Portfolio

Portfolio Responsibilities

Rural Affairs and Islands is a diverse portfolio which includes farming and food production, animal health and welfare, rural and island communities, food and drink, crofting, fisheries and aquaculture. The reach of the portfolio is broad and vital, supporting the Scottish Government’s overarching ambition to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Our priorities in this Parliament are to reform and transform key areas so this portfolio can help make Scotland greener and fairer. We will create a more prosperous country by safeguarding the natural environment and harnessing the power of all of our people and our natural assets. Sustainability is at the heart of all that we do. In the coming year, we will focus on:

  • doing all we can to mitigate the impacts of EU exit;
  • supporting a robust recovery from the pandemic;
  • strengthening the resilience of rural, coastal and island communities, businesses and industries;
  • continuing stability through maintained support across the agricultural sector and testing new approaches to help farmers and crofters cut emissions;
  • developing a strong blue economy, ensuring a good environmental status for all of Scotland’s marine waters;
  • supporting a successful food and drink sector to produce high quality, healthy food and promote it to local, regional and international markets;
  • creating the statutory framework that underpins our ambition to make Scotland a Good Food Nation;
  • investing in our island communities so that they thrive and flourish in the future;
  • developing and publishing a Just Transition plan for land and agriculture, and helping increase opportunities for aquaculture; and
  • driving towards a Net Zero and climate resilient economy through transformation in agriculture, land use and marine sectors.

Rural Affairs and Islands

Table 10.01: Spending Plans (Level 2)
Level 2 2020-21
Budget
£m
2021-22
Budget
£m
2022-23
Budget
£m
Agricultural Support and Related 597.5 804.0 799.6
Rural Services 34.6 41.1 42.6
Fisheries and Aquaculture 5.9 20.4 20.4
Marine 65.5 86.1 95.9
Islands 10.5 8.3
Covid-19 Funding 1.0
Total Rural Affairs and Islands 703.5 963.1 966.8
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 776.0 837.5 880.8
of which Operating Costs 143.8 163.5 180.8
Non-cash 42.3 42.6 10.1
Capital 55.5 63.0 75.9
Financial Transactions (FTs) (170.3) 20.0
UK Funded AME
Presentational Adjustments for Scottish Parliament Approval
2020-21
Budget
£m
2021-22
Budget
£m
2022-23
Budget
£m
Crofting Commission (0.1) (0.1) (0.1)
Animal License Fees 0.1 0.1 0.1
Total Rural Affairs and Islands 703.5 963.1 966.8
Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) 300.0
Table 10.02: Agricultural Support and Related Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2020-21
Budget
£m
2021-22
Budget
£m
2022-23
Budget
£m
Pillar 1 - Basic payments 282.0 282.0 282.0
Pillar 1 - Greening payments 142.0 142.0 142.0
Pillar 1 - Other payments 48.0 61.0 61.0
Broadband
Convergence Funding 95.7 25.7 25.7
Agricultural Transformation 40.0 45.0 25.0
Agri Environmental Measures 42.7 34.2 35.8
Business Development (172.3) 17.1 26.0
Crofting Assistance 0.8 0.8 0.8
EU Income (74.3) (24.0) (2.5)
Forestry 0.4 0.2 0.1
Leader 22.2 10.4 11.6
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme 30.2 65.5 65.5
ARE Operations 139.5 142.6 122.1
Technical Assistance 0.6 1.5 4.5
Total Agricultural Support & Related 597.5 804.0 799.6
of which:
Fiscal Resource 682.7 705.6 737.5
Non-cash 37.0 37.0 4.9
Capital 48.1 41.4 57.1
FTs (170.3) 20.0
UK Funded AME
Table 10.03: Rural Services Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2020-21
Budget
£m
2021-22
Budget
£m
2022-23
Budget
£m
Agricultural & Horticultural Advice & Support 2.5 2.2 2.2
Animal Health 17.2 18.9 19.6
Crofting Commission 2.8 3.3 4.0
Food Industry Support 6.6 10.5 10.5
Rural Economy and Communities 0.6 1.3 1.4
Veterinary Surveillance 4.9 4.9 4.9
Total Rural Services 34.6 41.1 42.6
of which:
Fiscal Resource 34.5 41.0 42.5
Non-cash 0.1 0.1 0.1
Capital
FTs
UK Funded AME
Table 10.04: Fisheries Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2020-21
Budget
£m
2021-22
Budget
£m
2022-23
Budget
£m
EU Fisheries Grants 14.1 14.1 14.1
Marine Fund Scotland 14.5 14.5
Fisheries Harbour Grants 1.0 1.0 1.0
Marine EU Income (9.2) (9.2) (9.2)
Fisheries 5.9 20.4 20.4
of which:
Fiscal Resource 1.5 16.0 16.0
Non-cash
Capital 4.4 4.4 4.4
FTs
UK Funded AME
Table 10.05: Marine Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2020-21
Budget
£m
2021-22
Budget
£m
2022-23
Budget
£m
Marine Scotland 65.5 86.1 95.9
Total Marine 65.5 86.1 95.9
of which:
Fiscal Resource 57.3 72.9 81.7
Non-cash 5.2 5.5 5.1
Capital 3.0 7.7 9.1
FTs
UK Funded AME
Table 10.06: Islands Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2020-21
Budget
£m
2021-22
Budget
£m
2022-23
Budget
£m
Islands Plan 10.5 5.0
Carbon Neutral Islands 3.0
Islands Bond 0.3
Total Islands 10.5 8.3
of which:
Fiscal Resource 1.0 3.0
Non-cash
Capital 9.5 5.3
FTs
UK Funded AME

Rural Affairs and Islands intended contributions to the National Outcomes

Primary National Outcomes

  • Economy
  • Environment
  • Communities

Secondary National Outcomes

  • Children and Young People
  • Education
  • Human Rights
  • Poverty
  • International
  • Fair Work and Business
  • Health
  • Culture

For further information on the purpose of the portfolio budget, and contributions to national outcomes (including impacts of spend on equality of outcome) please refer to the relevant portfolio annex in the published Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget Statement.

Contact

Email: ScottishBudget@gov.scot

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