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December 13, 2017
More voices needed
Earlier this year, Fergus Ewing MSP Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy appointed his National Council of Rural Advisers. Their job was to advise on the implications of Brexit and to make recommendations about how Scotland’s rural economy could be supported going forward. While it would never have been practical to include all rural interests in such a group, it doesn’t explain why farming and the food and drink industry fill almost every seat. With an interim report now published, is it time for a more diverse range voices to be heard?
The National Council of Rural Advisers has published its interim report.
The remit of the National Council of Rural Advisers (NCRA) is to provide advice on the potential implications of Scotland leaving the European Union (EU) as part of the United Kingdom (UK), and make recommendations on future policy and support, with the aim of ensuring a vibrant, sustainable and productive rural economy.
The ‘Potential Implications for Rural Scotland of the UK leaving the EU’ report covers the former and the potential implications of Brexit on rural Scotland, with a focus on trade, labour and skills, funding, legislation and standards.
It is intended to be a snapshot of rural Scotland and those aspects of rural that the NCRA think are key to informing the Scottish Government in its discussions with the UK Government on Brexit.
The report concludes with a number of key areas that should be taken forward by everyone as we prepare for Spring 2019 and beyond. The NCRA will further explore some of the issues raised in this interim report as we work towards a more detailed set of recommendations to Ministers, due in Spring next year.
Download the Potential Implications for Rural Scotland of the UK leaving the UK report