Orkney's MSP, Jim Wallace, has welcomed the submission made by Orkney Islands Council, and endorsed by the Orkney Branch of the NFUS, Orkney Enterprise and the Orkney Tourist Board, in response to the consultation on implementation of reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Commenting, after formally receiving a copy of the submission, Mr. Wallace said: "This timely and welcome submission shows how central agriculture is to the Orkney economy, and the impact which a fully decoupled system, under a reformed CAP, could have, not only on the farming sector, but also on a wide range of associated industries, as well as on the delivery of public services in the islands. Quite properly and importantly, the paper also highlights the efforts made locally to rise to the challenge of the Forward Strategy for Agriculture, and the public and private investment made in facilities such as Orkney Meat, Orkney Auction Mart, and the Orkney Cheese creamery to promote the quality agenda. We should ensure that the benefits of these initiatives are secured for the future.

From representations which I have received from across Orkney and from meetings I have had, including one which I arranged, earlier this month, between NFUS office bearers, the OIC Convener, and the Rural Development Minister, Ross Finnie, I am in no doubt about the vital importance of this issue, and the need to get across some key messages, some of which are unique to Orkney.

These meetings have been useful in identifying both issues of concern, and possible ways forward. As well as using the national envelope to target support on LFA fragile and very fragile areas, the Orkney NFU and the council have proposed a partial re-coupling through the slaughter premium scheme.

At present, we are still anxiously awaiting the publication of the detailed rules on single payment entitlement and transfers, but it is perfectly understandable that a marker should be put down proposing ring fencing of single farm payment entitlements within Orkney.

Ross Finnie was obviously unable to make any commitments, whilst the consultation period is still running, but I take encouragement from the fact that he played an important role earlier this year in the key EU talks, in negotiating the flexibilities to the system of decoupling.

I shall continue to make every effort to ensure that the Orkney position is well understood and addressed; and having secured the flexibility options to press for them to be used in an effective way."