Leaving the EU: the Rural Economy Debate

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Department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

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Opposition Day

Leaving the EU: the Rural Economy

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts

DWP Policies and Low-income Households
Tuesday 17th January 2017

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Calum Kerr Portrait Calum Kerr
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I thank my hon. Friend for that excellent contribution, which brings me on to one of the first areas that I want to look at. Nowhere is the policy vacuum more apparent than on the issue of farm payments. Whatever its flaws—

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Portrait Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP)
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I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on making some very compelling points. We have a similar situation in Northern Ireland where 80% of farm incomes are dependent on European resources. Does he agree that there is a fear that that sort of funding is not likely to come from the Treasury, thus undermining our local rural economy and our agricultural enterprises?

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