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THE RURAL STEWARDSHIP SCHEME

Section 6 Payment Arrangements

6.1 What payments are available?

There are one-off payments towards the cost of preparation of the Environmental Audit (EA) and the Moorland Management Plan (MMP) and for a range of Capital Items. Annual payments are available for managing agreed habitats and features to enhance the conservation interest as detailed in the Environmental Audit. Annual payments are also available for stock disposal under a Moorland Management Plan.

Receipted invoices will be required for Environmental Audit preparation costs.

6.2 If my application is not approved because of lack of funds, will I be entitled to receive payments towards the cost of preparation of the Environmental Audit and Moorland Management Plan?

Yes, provided the Environmental Audit and Moorland Management Plan are of a satisfactory standard and the application is otherwise eligible. However, no payment will be made for the preparation of a Moorland Management Plan where no moorland management is proposed.

6.3 When will the payments be made?

Payments towards the cost of preparation of Environmental Audits and Moorland Management Plans will be made soon after the decision on the application is issued.

Payment for capital items will be made after the work is completed and a properly completed claim is submitted. You must not claim for works which have not been completed.

Payments for managing habitats or features will be made annually in arrears on receipt of a properly completed claim form on or after the anniversary of the approval of the application and annually thereafter.

Stock disposal payments will be made in the September subsequent to the calendar year in which the ewes were disposed of and annually thereafter. For example, for an application approved in 2001 (year 1) the stock must be disposed of prior to submission of the 2002 SAP claim and the first stock disposal payment will be made at the plan anniversary in September (2002).

6.4 How do I claim for payments?

For the Environmental Audit and the Moorland Management Plan, you will require to include with your RSS application, evidence (e.g. a receipted invoice) of the cost incurred in drawing up the Environmental Audit or Moorland management Plan.

For both management and capital payments, your local SERAD office will provide a pre-printed claim form at the appropriate time which you should complete and return. It is essential that you read the instructions carefully before completing the pre-printed claim form. Payment will only be made on the actual measurements of the capital or management options undertaken or the approved measurement, whichever is the smaller.

The Department will investigate discrepancies between the areas/lengths claimed and the actual measurements. Depending upon the reasons for the discrepancy, action may be taken under the Scheme's breach procedures.

6.5 How are the payments calculated?

Individual payment rates are shown on the list of payment rates in the folder that accompanies this booklet. Rates will be reviewed periodically to ensure that the rates reflect income foregone and the cost of participating in the Scheme. They are not directly linked to inflation. The payments for the Environmental Audit and the Moorland Management Plan are based on an estimate of the likely amount of an adviser's or consultant's time likely to be needed to prepare the audit or moorland plan. The annual management payments are designed to compensate you for the loss of output and income and the additional costs associated with conservation management. The payments for capital items are based upon estimated average costings for particular items of work.

6.6 Are there limits on the capital or management payments?

No, but where the area being managed exceeds certain limits the payment rates are reduced, as explained below.

Where the total area of habitats proposed for management under the Scheme on the in-bye land exceeds 100 hectares, all payment rates applying to these sites will be reduced from the full rate. A definition of In-bye is provided at Appendix 2 of this Booklet.

Where the total area of habitats proposed for management on the rough grazings exceeds 1000 hectares (2000 hectares for common grazings committee applications), all payment rates applying to these moorland sites will be reduced. A definition of rough grazings is provided at Appendix 2 of this booklet. You should note that coastal and lowland heath, lowland raised bog and heather moorland are included in this definition.

Please see the payment information in the folder that accompanies this booklet for more details.

Where the stock disposal option is adopted, the annual management payment due will be calculated on the basis of the area of moorland to benefit and the number of ewes to be removed from the business. The total payment under this option will be limited to the equivalent of 250 hectares of moorland. Hectarage limits apply to the whole IACS business.

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