Rural Scotland, covering 95 per cent of the land area and 18 per cent of the population, is an integral part of the country's economy, environment and culture. The Scottish Government's aim is to promote development in rural areas and empower communities.
The Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is a £1.6 billion programme of economic, environmental and social measures designed to develop rural Scotland over the next few years, until 2013.
Review of the SRDP - 10 June 2009 
Peter Cook's review of the SRDP was released today. In response The Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead has announced some further operational improvements to the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP)'s Rural Priorities including greater simplification of the online application process.
A package of new measures to support agriculture and the rural economy was also unveiled.