Government will do everything it can to get best deal for farmers after Brexit, says PM May
Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament on Wednesday that the government will be doing everything possible to get the best deal for the farming sector once the country leaves the EU.
"We're very conscious of the importance of the food and agricultural sector across the United Kingdom but particularly of that sector to Northern Ireland and we will be doing everything we can ... to ensure we get the best deal possible for the agri-food sector," she told parliament at Prime Minister's Questions.
Despite the early commitments from the Treasury supporting agriculture, farming unions still remain concerned around the uncertainties of financial support leading up to Brexit and beyond.
The government statement guaranteeing support levels for structural and investment fund projects after Brexit was announced at the Conservative Party conference.
'Ambiguity not welcome'
"We were very pleased to hear of early commitments from the Treasury to support agriculture," said Glyn Roberts, the Farmers’ Union of Wales President.
"However, we are worried about the detail to support the statements.
"For example, a commitment to 2020 for CAP Pillar 1 funding could be read as March 2020 as part of the financial year 2019/20 or it could mean to the end of the financial year almost 12 months later.
"The announcement of CAP pillar 2 support until possibly 2022, which was made by the Chancellor at the Conservative Party Conference, whilst welcome, is also adding to the confusion.
"Such ambiguity is not welcome and does not help individuals plan their businesses. Careful and precise statements are needed now more than ever," added Mr Roberts.
