Farm Thefts

Question Time — Scottish Executive — Rural Affairs and the Environment – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:15 pm on 28 June 2007.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Margaret Mitchell Margaret Mitchell Conservative 2:15, 28 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will assess the impact on the rural economy of an increased incidence of thefts of machinery, fencing, fuel and quad bikes from farms. (S3O-358)

Photo of Richard Lochhead Richard Lochhead Scottish National Party

Data addressing the specific incidence of thefts of machinery, fencing, fuel and quad bikes from farms are not held centrally by the Scottish Executive. Information on farm crime was published in 1998 in the Scottish farm crime survey and there are no plans to repeat this survey or to undertake an economic impact assessment.

Photo of Margaret Mitchell Margaret Mitchell Conservative

In the absence of such statistics, would the minister be prepared to support the rural security zone initiative that was launched in partnership with the community police in Ayrshire, the NFU Scotland and the National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited? The initiative aims to raise the farming community's awareness that traditional methods of securing farm buildings are simply not addressing the problem, in order to help farmers to assess security risks, and to use marking, tracking and equipment-locking devices to secure machinery. All of that is being done in an effort to reduce the impact of crime on the rural economy. Will the minister support that initiative and be prepared to support its extension to other parts of rural Scotland?

Photo of Richard Lochhead Richard Lochhead Scottish National Party

I thank the member for her question, although I am not sure whether she is seeking moral or financial support. I am certainly prepared to give moral support at this point and am keen to learn more about the success of the initiative to which she referred; it sounds extremely worthwhile.

It is worth pointing out that the 1998 survey found that the majority of farmers in Scotland enjoy a crime-free working environment. It is important to keep that in mind. Of course, security issues in 2007, to which the member refers, are important and I am keen to find out more about what the Government can do to help.