Members' Debate: LEADER Programme - 6 March 2018
Channel: The Scottish Parliament
Date: 2018-03-06

Mairi Gougeon: LEADER Programme—That the Parliament acknowledges the
excellent high-quality projects currently being delivered by the LEADER programme, the EU fund 
that has been supporting community-led local development in rural areas for over 25 years; notes
what it considers the solid and unique framework provided by LEADER, which creates local
partnerships between individuals, rural-based enterprises and communities, enabling them to
innovate, diversify and become more sustainable; recognises the value of LEADER in facilitating
co-operation between community-led projects in different parts of rural Scotland, including in
Angus North and Mearns, the UK and Europe; commends the LEADER staff and local action
groups across the 21 programmes in Scotland, which have, to date, approved, or are in the
process of approving, more than 400 projects since 2014; notes the interim report by the National
Council of Rural Advisers, which it understands highlights that, in terms of targeting resources,
there is scope to learn from the application of the LEADER approach that drives community-led
local development and has a unique role in enabling local partnerships, and notes calls for urgent
clarity from the UK Government on what will replace this funding once the UK is no longer a
member of the EU, including how money will be allocated, how projects will be approved and
delivered, and what the total allocations will be.

Published by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

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