Rural Support Plan

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Closed 10 Aug 2026

Opened 1 Jul 2026

Contact

Rural Affairs Committee

rural.committee@parliament.scot

Overview

The Rural Affairs Committee is seeking views on the Scottish Government’s Rural Support Plan.

The Rural Support Plan was published in March 2026. It aims to enable rural businesses to succeed in the face of challenges, and for the Scottish Government to deliver on its wider economic, environmental and social goals.

About this call for views

Those views will inform the Committee’s scrutiny.

The call for views and analysis aim to help the Committee to understand how successfully the Rural Support Plan provides:

  • a clear structure for agricultural support schemes 
  • clarity over timescales and stakeholder engagement 
  • proposals for funding 
  • clarity around delivery of emissions reductions measures in agriculture

Themes we would like feedback on

1. Structure of support schemes

  • Reflections on the four-tier framework
  • Reflections on the schemes mapped against each tier

2. Timescales, clarity and stakeholder engagement

  • The timescales for reform proposed in the Rural Support Plan 
  • Whether there is sufficient clarity around the direction of travel provided in the Rural Support Plan
  • The process around producing the Rural Support Plan, and stakeholder engagement during this process

3. Funding 

  • The proposals for funding changes outlined in the Rural Support Plan

4. Climate change plan – clarity around delivery 

  • Whether the Rural Support Plan provides clarity around the mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, complementing the Climate Change Plan
  • Whether the Rural Support Plan provides any clarity on adaptation to climate change for agriculture

5. Other reflections on the plan

  • Any additional reflections on the Rural Support Plan

The call for views closes on 10 August 2026.