Oral Answers to Questions

Martyn Day Excerpts

Thursday 7th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Rory Stewart]

As my colleague the Minister of State has pointed out, the details of our position in relation to Europe will have to be determined by a future Prime Minister, but we played a very active role in drafting that plan and pushing for its contents. The hon. Lady will see in what we are doing in Vietnam our commitment to that plan. I reassure her that, certainly as long as I am in this position, the UK’s position is absolutely unequivocal.

[Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP)]

3. What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on rural development programmes.

[Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)]

6. What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on rural development programmes.

[The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (George Eustice)]

Until negotiations conclude and the UK leaves the EU, all existing arrangements remain in place, including rural development programmes across the UK. It will be for a new Prime Minister and his or her Cabinet to consider the future shape of rural development once the UK leaves the EU.

[Martyn Day]

The Minister may recall that Scotland voted to remain in the EU in the referendum. Will he commit that nobody in Scotland who benefited from the Scottish rural development programme will lose out on funding?

[George Eustice]

As I have said, while we remain in the EU, all existing arrangements remain in place, including our current rural development programmes. Nothing changes until negotiations have been concluded and a new partnership with the EU is put in place.