The Act Part 2: Support for agriculture, rural development and related matters Section 7 – Funding of third Party support
75.This section enables the Scottish Ministers to provide support not only to individuals and businesses that are directly undertaking an activity, but also to persons and organisations who, in turn, support people and organisations in pursuit of that purpose, whether through funding or direct assistance.
76.This is best illustrated by means of some examples. At present, through the CAP Pillar 2 support scheme LEADER,(14) the Scottish Ministers provide funding to the rural Local Action Groups(15) (“LAGs”). The LAGs in turn use those funds to award grant funding to initiatives within their local area (as LAGs are best placed to understand the needs and opportunities of their communities and thus best placed to manage and deliver the funding). This provision ensures that this kind of funding can continue.
77.Similarly, the Scottish Ministers sometimes fund co-operative and credit societies so that they may make micro-loans to their members for farming equipment etc. This activity will also be able to continue by virtue of this provision.