Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020

The Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 is a piece of legislation enacted in the United Kingdom to ensure the continuation of direct payments to farmers following the UK's departure from the European Union.

Specifically, the Act aims to provide legal continuity by preserving the effect of relevant EU regulations concerning direct payments. This was necessary to avoid a sudden cessation of financial support to the agricultural sector during the transition period after Brexit. The Act allows the UK government to make direct payments to farmers in a manner similar to the arrangements under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), at least temporarily.

The purpose of the Act was primarily to provide stability and certainty to the farming community. By maintaining a system of direct payments, the government sought to mitigate the potential negative economic impacts of leaving the EU and allow time to develop a new long-term agricultural policy for the UK.

The Act allows for the continuation of payments based on the acreage of land farmed and other factors, similar to the previous EU schemes. It provides the legal framework necessary for government agencies to administer these payments and ensure that farmers receive the financial support they rely on.

The Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 should be seen as an interim measure, designed to bridge the gap between the EU agricultural policy regime and the development and implementation of a new, UK-specific agricultural policy framework. The long-term direction of UK agricultural policy, including the future of direct payments, is a separate issue being addressed through new legislation and policy initiatives focused on sustainability, environmental stewardship, and productivity.