Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is his policy that payments to farmers in Northern Ireland will be comparable to Common Agricultural Policy payments after 2022.
Answered by George Eustice
Following the Bew Review, the Government has confirmed that it will not simply apply the Barnett formula to changes in Defra funding beyond this Parliament and has committed to developing an approach on future (i.e. after 2022) funding allocations, recognising that agriculture policy is and will remain devolved. Longer term discussions between the Government and the devolved administrations will be about ensuring allocations are fair and that no farmers in any part of the UK gain an unfair competitive advantage.