EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
NE: A new payment for hill farmers, aimed at rewarding them for combining food production with protecting their distinctive landscape & encouraging wildlife has been launched by Natural England and Defra. Upland Entry Level Stewardship replaces the Hill Farm Allowance – which ends in March 2010 - and offers payments that are more than double the amount for standard ELS in recognition of the harsh conditions in which hill farmers operate.
The first agreements will run from 1 July 2010 and farmers seeking to apply for these are advised to do so before 1 May 2010.
ScotGov: Homeowners faced with repossession will be given greater protection under the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill which was last week approved unanimously by MSPs in the Parliament.
