The Government has announced that it will issue fair funding for all farmers across the UK when we leave the EU in March 2019
The Secretary of State declared that an independent advisory panel will look at how funding supports the needs of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The panel will consider the needs of each country’s individual circumstances, including environmental, agricultural and socio-economic factors.
To ensure that farms throughout the UK are treated fairly, farm numbers and sizes will also be considered.
Lord Bew of Donegore will lead the review to suggest how the annual amount of convergence funding is split between the four countries in the remainder of this parliament before we leave the Common Agricultural Policy.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “This important review, led by Lord Bew, will explore how we can deliver funding for farmers that supports the individual needs of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We are committed to making sure that future funding is fairly allocated, and are also confirming that the Government won’t simply apply the Barnett formula to Defra’s funding beyond this parliament.
Meanwhile our funding commitment up until the end of the Parliament gives more certainty for UK farmers than any other EU member state. Lord Bew said:
“I’m very pleased to be chairing this review to explore an issue that is important to so many in the agriculture sector. I am anxious to consult widely and I look forward to getting started as soon as my fellow panel members have been appointed.”
Lord Bew was Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life for five years and has contributed to a number of Bills, reviews and reports since his appointment as a non-party-political peer by the independent House of Lords Appointments Commission in February 2007.
He will be joined on the panel by representatives from each devolved administration to ensure that their voices are heard.
Decisions will be informed by previous allocations and money which has already been allocated will not be redistributed.
The Government has already confirmed that overall funding for UK farm support will be protected in cash terms to the end of the Parliament in 2022, providing more certainty than any other EU member state.
