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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on support for farmers in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.

Defra and the other UK nations work closely together through the consensus-based and well-established governance arrangements we have set up and operate under the Agricultural Support Framework. The regular meetings established under this Framework provide an opportunity for Defra and Scottish Government officials to meet regularly and discuss emerging issues, share good practice, and proactively discuss and coordinate policy innovation. No specific points regarding support for farmers in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency have been raised in these forums. It is for the devolved governments to allocate their funding in devolved areas as they see fit and they are accountable to their respective legislatures for their decisions. This is a key principle of devolution, and we are respecting that.