Ireland, England and Wales to dodge land fines

IRELAND, England and Wales are expected to dodge EU fines for claiming subsidies on ineligible land, which will cost Scotland and Northern Ireland at least €200 million.

The Scottish Government warned farmers in September they faced losing up to four years of subsidies if any mistakes were found in the maps they used to claim payments. More than 2,000 farmers have since corrected maps.

However, MEP George Lyon has warned the sudden clampdown by the Scottish Government on ineligible land claims may be too late, and said a big EU fine may be on the way in Scotland after farmers claimed subsidies on ineligible land such as watercourses, ponds, roads, or areas covered with scree, rocks, gorse, bracken, woods, hard standing, yards, houses and buildings.