The rural affairs secretary uses his amendment to say the Scottish government has engaged comprehensively with stakeholders during the development and negotiation of the policy, and that both stakeholders and the government agreed that securing the right policy outcomes for Scotland was the priority. 

He says that was agreed even if this risked impacting on the timing of payments within the 1 December to 30 June Pillar 1 payment window. 

Mr Lochhead says the government had issued over 10,000 payments worth around 80% of basic and greening payments to 56% of eligible farmers and crofters as of 7 March 2016. 

Mr Lochhead says in the course of 2015 the government has launched around 20 schemes across the whole of the CAP, with some radically different to their predecessors.

The rural affairs secretary says it was essential the government engaged with stakeholders throughout the reform process.

He says: "They said the top priority was getting the right policy outcomes."

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead uses his amendment to say the CAP currently being implemented is the most radical and ambitious ever, with unprecedented simultaneous reforms to both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 of the CAP. 

Mr Lochhead says this requires around 20 schemes to be launched during 2015 and the introduction of greening measures and three payment regions. 

He says the timetable of EU negotiations and decisions left administrations with a short timescale in which to implement such radical reforms. 

Mr Fergusson says the scandalously expensive system must be sorted out once and for all or be abandoned.

The Scottish Conservatives have called for a full and independent inquiry into delays to the support payments.

Leader Ruth Davidson called the Scottish government's handling of the situation "shambolic".

The Tories' motion states that farmers across the country have "lost trust" in the ability of Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead to deliver the funding before the end of the financial year.

Image source, Getty Images

Scottish Labour's spokeswoman for environmental justice, Sarah Boyack, said the Scottish government's record over farm payments was "one of calamity, chaos and complacency".

Scottish Liberal Democrat rural affairs spokesman Tavish Scott said: "This must now be the last rites for the Scottish government's £178m computer that has utterly failed to deliver."

Mr Lochhead intervenes to ask why did the Conservatives try to scrap the payments in the past.

The Conservative MSP says we are in Scotland now and the cabinet secretary cannot deflect criticism like that.

NFU Scotland , externalPresident Allan Bowie said: "The log jam has broken. For months, NFU Scotland has been looking for focused thinking and clear leadership from the Scottish government to resolve this farm payments crisis for the benefit of the whole rural economy.

"We welcome the first minister's involvement and intervention and finally we have clear timelines drawn when all basic payment scheme claimants will receive the majority of their claims; when hill farmers and crofters will receive the majority of their Less Favoured Areas scheme money and beef payments have been promised in mid-April.

Image source, NFU Scotland

"That meets many of the demands that NFU Scotland has raised with Scottish government as a direct result of the cash flow crisis that has emerged in recent months.

"I praise the efforts of all those farmers, crofters and trade representatives who have taken time to brief politicians in the past few weeks."

He added: "The flawed IT system to deliver CAP payments, funded by £180 million of taxpayers' money, desperately needs to be addressed and investigated and that must happen in due course.

The Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesperson says many farmers and crofters remain angry and distressed despite yesterday's announcment.

Image source, Reuters

Mr Fergusson says it was the cabinet secretary who said most farmers would receive their payments by the end of January.

He points to the whole host of rural businesses who have been hit by the crisis.

Mr Fergusson says: "This shambles cannot just be put down to complexity."

The Tory MSP says there has been considerable controversy around the IT project.

He calls for an full open and independent inquiry into the IT debacle, if Audit Scotland's report does not full cover the issue.

Mr Fergusson says from the outset the IT system was unfit for purpose, according to farmers.

He says it would have been far better to revert to a paper based process, as the UK government did.

The Conservative MSP says the SNP government did not have a sensible plan B.

The Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesperson uses his motion to support calls for a full independent inquiry into the Scottish Government's IT failures. 

Mr Fergusson says Scottish farm income has fallen by 15% over the past year, which is only the second time this century when incomes have fallen in two consecutive years. 

He calls on the Scottish government to take whatever steps are necessary to process the outstanding £300 million of basic payment and greening funds and the £38 million of Scottish beef scheme funds, including the hiring of temporary staff if necessary. 

On a positive not, Mr Fergusson commends the Scottish government for having taken steps to ensure that less favoured area support scheme payments are received promptly, and calls on it to guarantee that all claimants will receive the first installment of their basic payments by no later than the end of March 2016. 

Nicola Sturgeon said: "The transition to a new, more complex CAP that is affecting payment schedules right across Europe is happening as farmers and crofters are dealing with poor market prices and challenging weather conditions.

"We are less than half way through the payment window allowed by Europe, and the majority of Scottish producers - more than 10,000 - have already received a subsidy payment.

"However, payments are not being made as quickly as we would like."

Image source, Getty images

Ms Sturgeon says: "That is why the Scottish government has earmarked up to £200m of national funds so that any farmer or crofter who has not received an instalment by the end of March receive a nationally-funded payment from the Scottish government in April."

Mr Fergusson details the background to the current difficulties with CAP payments.

He says it has been down to the Scottish government to deliver the new payments.

The Conservative rural affairs minister says the minister pretty much has ended up pleasing no-one.

"The whole regime is in disarray."

Mr Fergusson's motion says current payments to farmers represent only a quarter of the available basic payment and greening funds. 

It says the delays have left the rural economy facing a financial black hole of some £300 million. 

The Conservative motion says "farmers across the country have lost trust in the ability of the cabinet secretary to deliver funding before the end of the financial year. 

The government pledge of up to £200m means that any farmers and crofters who have not yet received a first instalment by the end of March will automatically receive a cash advance worth 80% of their CAP claim.

Image source, PA

The move was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon ahead of a meeting with NFU Scotland yesterday, who have warned of a "deepening cash crisis" facing farmers and crofters. 

Mr Fergusson says it is well Mr Swinney appears to have such deep pockets to help Mr Lochhead.

Scottish ministers have pledged to get up to £200m in national funds to farmers hit by delays in processing of EU subsidies.

The emergency cash will be used to support thousands of farmers while Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) claims are being processed.

Image source, Getty Images

Payments have been affected by major issues with a £178m IT system set up in Scotland to administer the new CAP.

By Monday, 10,164 first instalments worth about 80% of basic and greening payments had been made.

That equates to about 56% of eligible claims.

Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesperson Alex Ferugsson says what a difference a well timed announcement from the government and a forthcoming election make.

He says he lost beauty sleep having to rewrite his speech following the announcement from the first minister yesterday. 

"The panic button has been well and truly pressed."

Mr Fergusson says he hopes this time the cabinet secretary can deliver. 

Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesperson Alex Fergusson uses his motion to highlight the financial difficulties facing Scottish farmers following the delayed payment of common agricultural policy (CAP) funds as a result of "the Scottish government's failed £178 million Futures Programme IT system". 

Image source, Thinkstock

Mr Fergusson says only 50% of farmers had been paid by the end of February 2016, notwithstanding the Richard Lochhead's assurances that "most" farmers would have received their payments by the end of January. 

He says this is the third indicative deadline that the Scottish government has failed to meet. 

The Scottish Conservatives lead a debate calling for government action over CAP payments to farmers and crofters.