Extracts from Committee stage (Lords) (day 1) of the Agriculture Bill - July 7
Wednesday, 8 July 2020 08:01
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Gardiner of Kimble)
(Con):...Turning to Amendment 51, in the name of the noble Lord,
Lord Greaves, the Government recognise the valuable contributions
rural areas make to our national life, economically, socially and
culturally. As set out in our manifesto, the Government intend to
introduce the UK shared prosperity fund to replace EU
structural funds. Defra officials are working...Request free trial
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ()
(Con):...Turning to Amendment 51, in the name of the noble Lord,
, the Government recognise
the valuable contributions rural areas make to our national life,
economically, socially and culturally. As set out in our manifesto,
the Government intend to introduce the UK shared prosperity
fund to replace EU structural
funds. Defra officials are working closely with the Ministry of
Housing, Communities and Local Government, which leads on the
fund’s development, to ensure that its design takes account of the
dynamics of rural economies and the particular challenges faced by
rural communities and farmers...
(LD): I thank the Minister for his
extensive reply. I was particularly pleased that he mentioned the
shared prosperity fund. I realise that it is not a
Defra issue, but it is an important structural issue and there has
been very little information about when this fund, which is a
Conservative Party manifesto pledge, will actually start. While I
would like to ask him that question, I am sure he does not know the
answer to it as it is not a Defra issue. However, will he really
press his colleagues in Government to get this fund going? The EU
structural funding is going to end very soon. There will be an end
there, and it is very important that the rural parts of that
funding start. Will he press his colleagues to get announcements
here so that people can prepare and not have this gap?
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