SNP minister struggles to explain where £33 million ringfenced money went

The convener of Holyrood’s Rural Affairs Committee has clashed with the minister in charge of Scotland’s agriculture over funding for the sector. Conservative MSP Finlay Carson questioned Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon on Wednesday during her appearance before the committee to discuss her remit in the role. During testy exchanges, the pair initially clashed over a £33 million saving that had been taken from the rural affairs allocation to balance last year’s budget, with promises from the then deputy first minister that the cash would be returned. Asked by Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton when the money will be returned, Ms Gougeon said she could not give a “definitive timetable” but said the funding is “ring fenced” – meaning it will have to come back to the rural affairs allocation and she will continue discussions with current Deputy First Minister Shona Robison. Mr Carson claimed the money was “taken out of the budget to be spent on something else” – an assertion rejected by the Scottish Government’s director of agriculture and rural economy, George Burgess. Become a Scottish Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: Like The Sun on Facebook: Follow The Sun on Twitter: #scottishpolitics #snp #scotland