A prominent rural expert has been appointed to undertake a review of the £1.6bn Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

Peter Cook, an independent consultant and former head of rural business at the Scottish Agricultural College, will assist the Scottish Government and the SRDP Programme Monitoring Committee with a first stage review.

This review takes place before the full-scale review demanded of the Programme in 2010 and will take into account the impact of the economic downturn and the changing global agenda as well as identifying lessons to be learned following the first year of operation.

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Speaking during a meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee, Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, said: "The SRDP is hugely valuable for rural Scotland in delivering environmental, economic and community benefits and I am keen that we are able to satisfy ourselves that the Programme's priorities are still as relevant today as they were when it was first considered over three years ago."

Mr Lochead said Scotland is "feeling the effects" of the sharpest economic slowdown in years and the government must ensure the SRDP does all it can to help the rural economy get through the tough times ahead.

"With the first year of the Programme's operation behind us we also have the opportunity to review and refine the delivery processes."

(GK/JM)