NSA welcomes Welsh Government’s decision on land classification
16th December 2014
The National Sheep Association (NSA) welcomes the decision made by the Welsh Government to avoid going to a court hearing on the legality of the division of the CAP Basic Payment Scheme in Wales, relating to the challenge against the low level of proposed payment for farmland above the 400 metre line.
Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “This is a great victory for months of work done by the moorland group ‘Fairness for the uplands’ and shows that collectively farmers can have an effective voice.
“NSA was pleased to be able to help with support for the group’s calls and we also give credit to Rebecca Evans and the Welsh Government for making this decision in advance of the court hearing. The next steps are still unclear, including whether Wales needs to go back to the EU for approval of whether they fall back to the default position of a single payment rate, and our concern now is whether this will affect payment dates and cash flow going forward.
“The decision is likely to take the system back towards the position that NSA took in its CAP consultation response to the Welsh Government, where we said we wanted to see money move up the hill and that a two-tier land category (rather than three) was an appropriate move.”
Notes to editors:-
- For more information contact Helen Davies, NSA Cymru/Wales Regional Development Officer, on 01938 590535, 07976 803066 or helen@nationalsheep.org.uk.
- The National Sheep Association is an organisation that represents the views and interests of sheep producers throughout the UK. It is funded by its membership of sheep farmers and its activities involve it in every aspect of the sheep industry. More at www.nationalsheep.org.uk and www.nsanextgeneration.org.uk.
