Scottish Budget: 2023 to 2024

The Scottish Budget sets out the Scottish Government’s proposed spending and tax plans for 2023 to 2024, as presented to the Scottish Parliament.


Chapter 10 Rural Affairs & Islands

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 whilst supporting food production.

Our priorities in this Parliament are to continue reforming and transforming key areas so this portfolio can help make Scotland greener and fairer. It is essential that Scotland is steadfast in its journey to Net Zero, investing in a strong economy, and building a fairer society as one of the means of addressing the current cost crisis.

This portfolio also has a vital role in maintaining certainty across the rural economy through direct cash injections, alongside supporting the creation of a more prosperous country by safeguarding the natural environment and harnessing the power of all of our people and our natural assets.

In the coming year, we will focus on:

  • strengthening the resilience of rural, coastal and island communities, businesses and industries;
  • continuing stability through ongoing support across the agricultural sector alongside testing new approaches to help farmers and crofters cut emissions and enhance nature;
  • developing shared stewardship of our marine assets to ensure a strong blue economy and progress towards good environmental status for all of Scotland's marine waters;
  • driving towards a Net Zero and climate resilient economy through transformation in agriculture, land use and marine sectors;
  • developing Scotland's second National Marine Plan, to address the global climate and nature crises by managing increasing competition for space and resources in the marine environment;
  • promoting advice and skills for farmers and crofters to support a Just Transition and act on the recommendations provided by the independent Commission on land-based learning;
  • supporting a successful food and drink sector to produce high quality, healthy food and promote it to local, regional and international markets;
  • establishing a dedicated Food Security Unit within the Scottish Government to monitor ongoing supply chain vulnerabilities and linking with future food security work, and
  • investing in our island communities so that they thrive and flourish in the future.

Rural Affairs and Islands

Table 10.01: Spending Plans (Level 2)
Level 2 2021-22 Budget 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
Agricultural Support and Related 793.8 788.2 772.2
Rural Services 51.5 54.2 58.4
Marine Funding 20.4 20.4 17.1
Marine 85.0 94.7 108.7
Islands 10.5 8.3 8.5
COVID-19 Funding 1.0 - -
Total Rural Affairs and Islands 962.2 965.8 964.9
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 836.6 879.8 888.9
of which Operating Costs 162.5 179.9 189.2
Non-cash 42.6 10.1 10.8
Capital 63.0 75.9 65.2
Financial Transactions (FTs) 20.0 - -
UK Funded AME - - -
Presentational Adjustments for Scottish Parliament Approval
Crofting Commission (0.1) (0.1) (0.1)
Animal License Fees 0.1 0.1 0.1
Total Rural Affairs and Islands 962.2 965.8 964.9
Total Limit on Income (accruing resources) 300.0
Table 10.02: Agricultural Support and Related Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2021-22 Budget 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £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 61.0 61.0 61.0
Convergence Funding 25.7 25.7 -
Agricultural Transformation 45.0 5.0 5.0
Technical Assistance 1.5 1.5 1.0
Agri Environment Measures 34.2 35.8 35.8
Business Development 17.1 26.0 13.1
Crofting Assistance 0.8 0.8 1.9
EU Income (24.0) (2.5) -
Forestry 0.2 0.1 0.1
Less Favoured Area Support Scheme 65.5 65.5 65.5
ARE Operations 142.9 122.3 125.1
Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture - - 0.7
Agricultural Reform Programme - 23.0 39.0
Total Agricultural Support & Related 793.8 788.2 772.2
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 699.2 730.0 727.1
Non-cash 37.0 4.9 5.0
Capital 37.6 53.3 40.1
FTs 20.0 - -
UK Funded AME - - -
Table 10.03: Rural Services Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2021-22 Budget 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
Agricultural & Horticultural Advice & Support 2.2 2.2 2.2
Animal Health 18.9 19.6 25.6
Crofting Commission 3.3 4.0 4.2
Food Industry Support 10.5 10.5 8.4
Leader 10.4 11.6 11.6
Rural Economy and Communities 1.3 1.4 1.5
Veterinary Surveillance 4.9 4.9 4.9
Total Rural Services 51.5 54.2 58.4
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 47.6 50.3 58.4
Non-cash 0.1 0.1 0.1
Capital 3.8 3.8 -
FTs - - -
UK Funded AME - - -
Table 10.04: Marine Funding Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2021-22 Budget 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
EU Fisheries Grants 14.1 14.1 5.2
Marine Fund Scotland 14.5 14.5 14.5
Fisheries Harbour Grant 1.0 1.0 1.0
Marine EU Income (9.2) (9.2) (3.6)
Total Marine Funding 20.4 20.4 17.1
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 16.0 16.0 5.0
Non-cash - - -
Capital 4.4 4.4 12.1
FTs - - -
UK Funded AME - - -
Table 10.05: Marine Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2021-22 Budget 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
Marine Scotland 85.0 94.7 108.7
Total Marine 85.0 94.7 108.7
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 71.8 80.6 94.9
Non-cash 5.5 5.1 5.7
Capital 7.7 9.1 8.0
FTs - - -
UK Funded AME - - -
Table 10.06: Islands Spending Plans (Level 3)
Level 3 2021-22 Budget 2022-23 Budget 2023-24 Budget
£m £m £m
Islands Plan 10.5 5.0 5.5
Carbon Neutral Islands - 3.0 3.0
Islands Bonds - 0.3 -
Total Islands 10.5 8.3 8.5
of which:
Total Fiscal Resource 1.0 3.0 3.5
Non-cash - - -
Capital 9.5 5.3 5.0
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
  • Culture
  • Health

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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