The Westminster Government has told The Scottish Farmer that it has ‘no concerns’ about the direction of the Scottish Government’s agriculture policy consultation.

The Defra statement follows worries from English farmers that it will be unfair if Scottish farmers continue to receive direct support and coupled payments, whilst south of the border they have been stopped. There have also been grumblings that drastic divergence in support systems north and south of the border could jeopardise a balanced and fair internal UK market.

However Defra stated that it has monthly meetings with Scottish Government officials, and is thus 'well aware of the proposals'.

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These discussions take place within the UK Agriculture Policy Collaboration Group (PCG) and the Market Monitoring Group (MMG). The PCG allows officials to consider whether new or changing policy will have an unwanted impact on another administration, and to make recommendations to Ministers and senior officials accordingly.

Defra told The Scottish Farmer that the Scottish Government agriculture policy consultation was discussed at the PCG in July and there were no concerns. It said it was regularly informed and sighted on plans as they were being developed via existing engagement through the Agricultural Support Framework.