SAC Rural Policy Centre

Consultation Responses

EFRA Committee Inquiry into EU Proposals to Green the CAP

EFRA Committee Inquiry into EU Proposals to Green the CAP (PDF: 298 kB)

Authors: Various SAC staff

Published:Nov 2011

This response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee at the UK Parliament was co-ordinated by the Rural Policy Centre in November 2011. The response explores a number of issues, including the extent to which the proposal to green direct payments is likely to generate significant environmental benefits, the impact of additional greening requirements on food and production and the competitiveness of the agricultural industry and some suggestions for improiving the greening proposals.

SAC Response to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee Roundtable discussion on the Inquiry into the Future of Agricultural Support in Scotland (February 2011)

SAC Response to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee Roundtable discussion on the Inquiry into the Future of Agricultural Support in Scotland (February 2011) (PDF: 349 kB)

Published:Feb 2011

This response, co-ordinated by the Rural Policy Centre, formed written evidence submitted to the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Environment Committee Roundtable Evidence Session on the Inquiry into the Future of Agricultural Support in Scotland. The response focuses on the hill and upland livestock sector for a number of reasons, including its importance to Scotland and the likelihood that reforms will have major impacts here due to the dependence on subsidy payments. The response focuses primarily on issues raised by the Commitee's questions.

SAC Response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Inquiry into the impact of Common Agricultural Policy reform on UK agriculture (January 2011)

SAC Response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Inquiry into the impact of Common Agricultural Policy reform on UK agriculture (January 2011) (PDF: 301 kB)

Published:Jan 2011

This response, co-ordinated by the Rural Policy Centre, discusses the potential impacts for UK agriculture of the proposed reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy post-2013. The response covers a range of different issues, including the effects of Commission's different options for reform on the productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of UK agriculture. The response also discusses the potential for implementing the reforms in a simple and cost-effective manner and the benefits of maintaining a common EU-wide policy.

SAC Response to the House of Lords Call for Evidence for the Inquiry into Innovation in EU Agriculture

SAC Response to the House of Lords Call for Evidence for the Inquiry into Innovation in EU Agriculture (PDF: 467 kB)

Published:Sep 2010

The response, which comprises contributions from several SAC staff, focuses on the ways in which agriculture is innovating now and the barriers to this innovation. It discusses some of the challenges that the industry is currently facing, which may represent drivers and opportunities for innovation and the ways in which all industry actors can be encouraged and supported to innovate. Finally, it discusses the importance of knowledge exchange between researchers and the industry and the ways in which this can be made most effective, drawing on some specific examples of SAC work as illustration.

Choosing the Right Ingredients - SAC Response

Choosing the Right Ingredients - SAC Response (PDF: 142 kB)

Published:Apr 2008

SAC is highly supportive of the Government's intention of moving from a sectoral approach to food policy towards a more integrated approach that brings agriculture and food production together with environmental, health, education and social justice concerns. The sectoral approach has provided an efficient means of addressing the needs of the food industry, but SAC recognises that many of the broader problems in society (such as ensuring wider economic growth, maintaining a high quality environment and tackling obesity) are complex issues that require integrated solutions.

Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland

Tackling Poverty, Inequality and Deprivation in Scotland (PDF: 174 kB)

Published:Jun 2008

SAC believes it is important to recognise that while there is little difference between the prevalence of poverty in urban and rural areas, the experience of poverty in urban and rural areas is distinctly different. Consequently, a 'one-size fits all' approach to tackling poverty is not appropriate – tackling rural poverty will require targeted policy solutions.

The Future Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in Scotland

The Future Implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in Scotland (PDF: 122 kB)

Published:Sep 2008

SAC wishes to see, and contributes significantly to delivering, a sustainable agricultural sector in Scotland. As such, SAC welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the future implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy in Scotland and in this response offers comment on the changes that are proposed under the 'Health Check' of the CAP.

SAC Response to the RSE Inquiry on Hill and Island Areas

SAC Response to the RSE Inquiry on Hill and Island Areas (PDF: 1.1 MB)

Published:Nov 2007

Based on a survey of relevant SAC staff and a review of available literature, this document comprises the SAC response to the RSE Inquiry into the future of Scotland's hill and island areas. The response focuses on the drivers of change; the attributes of Scotland’s hill and island areas; how change in agriculture, forestry and tourism may affect the economies of these areas; the impact of changes to land use and ownership on the landscape, environment, housing and communities; the implications of climate change; and the policies, financial instruments and institutional arrangements available.