The Agriculture Bill
The Government’s long-awaited Agriculture Bill is progressing through parliament with a third reading due in December. The Bill will set the framework for the biggest reform to the farming subsidy system for a generation as the UK prepares for its withdrawal from the EU.
Rather than making the most of the opportunity to articulate a detailed food and farming policy to lead the UK food supply chain into the 21st century, the Bill largely focuses on high level frameworks to facilitate further reform to financial support payments to primary producers.
The current BPS mechanism will remain in place for the 2019 and 2020 period, but from 2021 a 7-year transition period begins to the complete removal of direct payments. These are to be replaced by an Environmental Land Management System of which the details are unknown.
Many rural membership organisations continue to lobby on the evolution of the Bill, but it will be important for rural businesses to closer monitor the short and medium-term implications of any detailed information as it emerges over the coming years. Defra published regular updates here.
Related posts
The Peak Cluster carbon capture and storage (CCS) project is a major new infrastructure scheme planned for the Midlands and Peak District. Its goal is to collect carbon dioxide
Resolving Compulsory Purchase Claims Early: Why early conversations, mediation and independent advice lead to better results Major infrastructure projects rely on good working relationships, but when land is needed
Everyone is aware of the proposed Inheritance Tax changes for APR and BPR as set out in the October budget. As we have previously highlighted, the statistics and analysis
This January the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has re-launched a version of Higher-Tier Environmental Agreements for Farmers and Land Managers. Initially by invitation only, the RPA’s new scheme is
Changes to the ‘standard method’ that the government use to estimate housing needs has led to significant increase in the number of homes that will need to be delivered
Across as wide range of infrastructure projects we are seeing an increasing number of compensation claims reaching the point of dispute and, with projects utilising compulsory acquisition powers set
