Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Farm Budgets 2024-25: Scotland

Tuesday 19 December 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government guarantees a 2 400 million annual budget for farmers across the UK for the duration of this Parliament.
  • The SNP Government have not clarified when the ringfenced money for Scottish agriculture will be returned.
  • The UK Government plans for the agriculture transition in England provide increased certainty over policy and spending intent for years to come.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Scotland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP inquired about recent discussions regarding farm budgets, specifically concerning the allocation of funds to Scottish farmers.

Question

What recent discussions has he had with his Scottish counterpart on farm budgets for the financial year 2024-25?

Answer from Laura Trott

The Government guarantee to maintain a £2.4 billion annual budget for farmers across the UK for every year of this Parliament. As agriculture is devolved, it is ultimately for the Scottish Government to decide how to allocate that money to farming in Scotland.

Answered
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Q2 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP noted the frustration among many farmers in Scotland due to deferred funding meant for supporting Scottish agriculture.

Question

What will she do in future to ensure that where money is given for the express purpose of supporting Scottish agriculture, it is in fact used for that purpose?

Answer from Laura Trott

The SNP Government are yet to clarify when this ringfenced money will be returned. I hope they will do so this afternoon at the Budget.

Partly answered

Not addressed: How she will ensure future compliance with intended use of funds

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Q3 Drew Hendry SNP
Scotland Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP echoed the Christmas wishes to House staff and commented on English farmers being worse off in cash terms due to UK Government's attempt to overhaul the EU subsidy scheme.

Question

Can the Minister guarantee that the UK Government will not try to undermine their payments and devolution by back-door use of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020?

Answer from Laura Trott

I note that the hon. Member did not answer my question, nor that of the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr Carmichael) about when the ringfenced money will be returned.

How: Did Not Answer The Specific Ask

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Q4 Drew Hendry SNP
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP expressed concern about lack of clarity from UK Government on future plans post-2025 compared to EU farming subsidies.

Question

Can the Minister apologise for that situation and guarantee that in the early months of next year we will have clarity on farming payments?

Answer from Laura Trott

The UK Government have laid out plans for the agriculture transition in England that go beyond the current spending review, giving farmers increased certainty over policy and spending intent for years to come. The Scottish Government could decide to provide farmers in Scotland with similar certainty if they chose to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: How she will ensure clarity on payments after 2025 for Scottish farmers

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