Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to maintain subsidies to UK farmers after the UK leaves the EU.

This Government has pledged the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of the parliament, expected in 2022. This is a greater level of security and certainty for farmers and landowners than anywhere else in the EU, where funding is guaranteed only to 2020. This total includes all EU and Exchequer funding provided for farm support under both Pillar I and Pillar II.

Leaving the EU gives us an opportunity to set new policies which specifically benefit agriculture and the environment. The government is committed to providing the best possible value for money to the taxpayer and we are exploring various options to achieve these aims.