Scots landowners target red tape

02 August 1999

Scots landowners target red tape

THE Scotsman interviews the man it bills as on “a mission to fight bureaucracy”.

Mike Gibson, chairman of the Scottish Landowners Federations agriculture committee, critisiced red tape – especially that from Brussels.

But he is not above criticising the National Farmers Union for the same reason.

Gibson, a former accountant who now runs a fold of 600 cattle, believes support for the hill farming areas of Scotland is vital because of their potential to produce quality beef and sheep. He says the only solution for Scottish farmers is to go for quality produce.

He says if Scottish agriculture goes down the commodity route, then it is “sunk”.

• The Scotsman 02/08/99 page 20