SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT HAMMERED FINAL NAIL IN FWAG'S COFFIN

11.22.29am GMT Wed 25th Feb 2009

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland and Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs spokesperson, has today commented on the news that FWAG has called in administrators after a future funding arrangement could not be found.

Jim Hume MSP said:

"The Scottish Government has hammered the final nail in FWAG's coffin.

"Ministers are entirely culpable for a funding settlement not being reached. Discussions on the future viability of FWAG would not have been necessary if Ministers had honoured their original funding commitment previously agreed months ago.

"The Scottish Government can no longer claim it fully supports rural communities. It has slashed budgets, broken promises and has now let a valuable asset to rural communities fold, costing over thirty jobs, a wealth of experience and jeopardising the delivery of the SRDP by reneging on promised funding halfway through the financial year."