Nanette Milne, Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East has highlighted the SNP Scottish Governments broken pledge to provide funding for new farm entrants.
She said, “Farming is the economic backbone of rural communities across the North East.
“There is a vital need to help safeguard Scotland’s farming skills by helping new entrants get a foot hold in the industry.
“The SNP promised to introduce a £10m year on year new entrants scheme in the last parliament. However, in reality the SNP only delivered £10m over the course of the last Parliament.
“I meet regularly with farming representatives and know how they are concerned at what has become an ageing industry and the limited opportunities for new young entrants to the industry.
“It is vital that the SNP Scottish Government support new opportunities for the next generation of Scottish Farmers and I will be pressing Ministers to report back to Parliament on how many new entrants have been assisted in the future.”