The European commission is set to review the subsidies and the overall common agricultural policy for the year 2000, and it may well result in the removal of some 100 million pounds ($160 million) from Scottish farming.

As Scotland is not represented directly in the European parliament, it must hope its European Members of parliament (MEPs) can help protect Scottish interests.

History has shown that London (Westminster) will look to protecting the interests of other sectors of the "UK" farming community.