Agriculture and Rural Land Implications

On 19 December 2019, the Queen’s Speech set out information on legislation that the government intends to carry over into, or introduce in, the 2019-20 Parliamentary session that follows the election held on 12 December 2019.

The government’s priority is to deliver Brexit on 31 January 2020 and to negotiate an ambitious free trade agreement with the EU that benefits the whole country. The government announced its intention to introduce a new regime for agriculture.

The proposed Agriculture Bill will include measures to replace the CAP with a new farming system based on public money for public goods. Along with the proposals to set out a new framework for the new Environmental Land Management Scheme, which will reward farmers who protect the environment.

The briefing notes to the Queen’s Speech refer to plans for other measures. Those of relevance to agricultural and rural land practitioners include:

• The Animal Welfare Bill.
• Global free trade.
• Extended next-generation broadband coverage.