(Congleton)
(Con): As we know, the potential of leaving the EU
is creating some uncertainty so can the Minister reassure
Cheshire farmers and the National Farmers Union that the current
funding schemes that their members are working with will not be
phased out until replacements are available to ensure that there
will not be any loss of funding during any period of
transition?
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr
Robert Goodwill): We have made the decision clear with
regard to the 2019 and 2020 schemes, and I remind farmers that
the deadline for applications this year is 15 May as usual. I
hope that they will get their applications in; sadly, in most
years, we get a lot of applications in the last 24 hours.
Mr (Orkney and Shetland)
(LD): NFU Scotland and other farming organisations
north of the border are increasingly concerned at the lack of
agreement between the UK Government and the Scottish Government
to allow a Scottish schedule into the Agriculture Bill. Will the
Minister meet me and a cross-party delegation, including the NFU
and crofters organisations, to hear from them what the industry
would want in that schedule?
Mr Goodwill: I would certainly be happy to
meet the right hon. Gentleman. I was in Aberdeenshire recently
and met representatives of the Scottish farming unions, and last
week I met from the Scottish
Administration and discussed a number of issues.
