The Government’s Agriculture Bill, set to replace the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after Brexit, has been met with criticism.

Professor Janet Dwyer, director of the Countryside and Community Research Institute, believes that while maintaining environmental and agricultural protection and support, the bill does not oblige the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to continue to support rural development. Currently, under the CAP, Defra plays a role in supporting rural businesses and communities through schemes such as the Local Enterprise Partnerships, or LEADER, the ‘bottom-up’ rural development arrangement. The bill, as proposed by the Government, would remove from Defra the ability to support on projects such as broadband, self-help and counselling services, transport, multi-functional pubs and post offices in rural areas.

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→ Parliamentary Business - Agriculture Bill (HC Bill 266)

→ Countryside & Community Research Institute - Where is Rural Development and LEADER? – Director’s Response to the Draft Agriculture Bill