Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Martyn Day and George Eustice

Thursday 7th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[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.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Martyn Day and George Eustice

Thursday 17th March 2016 Commons Chamber

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

T7. Given that the position of the farming Minister is for the UK to leave the EU, what measures does he believe should be in place and how will he ensure financial assistance for Scottish farmers should there be a Brexit?

[George Eustice]

As I explained earlier and as the hon. Gentleman knows, the formal Government position is to remain in the European Union, but the Prime Minister himself made it clear this week that were the country to decide to leave the Government would of course continue to support British agriculture.