Unhitch Scots farm support from UK policy – NFU Scotland
NFU Scotland has called on agricultural support arrangements to be separated from a new UK approach to subsidy control.
Following the end of the Brexit transition the UK has the freedom to design a new domestic subsidy control regime reflecting strategic interests particular to national circumstances.
Interim arrangements under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) came into force on January 1, 2021 broadly mirroring the EU’s state aid rules, and the UK Government is currently consulting on future arrangements.
The UK Government seeks a subsidy control system that promotes the benefits that can be derived from subsidies while limiting the most harmful impacts.
In its response, NFU Scotland supports measures for the UK’s strategic interests, maintaining a dynamic market economy, protecting the UK internal market and acting as a responsible trade partner.
But it has concerns about funding for agriculture and rural development policy goals being part of the proposed regime, and believes they should remain separate.
The primary concern is the potential impact on agricultural policy in Scotland.
NFU Scotland director of policy Jonnie Hall said: ‘Agricultural and rural development policy is a devolved area for very good reason. It must reflect different needs and circumstances, and our concern is that these subsidy control proposals could significantly constrain that.
‘In our view, agricultural and rural development financial support must be kept separate from the subsidy control regime being proposed.’
He said that the NFUS accepted that devolved support arrangements must not distort competition or trade within the UK but added there were already safeguards, internationally and nationally, in place to prevent this from happening.