[F1Article 7U.K.Net ceilings
1.[F2The] total amount of direct payments which may be granted in [F3the United Kingdom] pursuant to Titles III, IV and V in respect of a calendar year, after application of Article 11, shall not be higher than the corresponding ceiling set out in Annex III.
Where the total amount of direct payments to be granted in [F4a constituent nation] would be higher than [F5its share of] the ceiling set out in Annex III, [F6the relevant authority] shall make a linear reduction in the amounts of all direct payments F7....
[F82.For calendar year 2020, the estimated product of the reduction of payments referred to in Article 11 (which is reflected by the difference between the national ceiling set out in Annex II and the net ceiling set out in Annex III) shall be made available as support for measures under rural development.
2A.References to “rural development” in this Article and in Article 14 include measures which are conducive to:
(a)the conservation or enhancement of the natural beauty or amenity of the countryside (including its flora and fauna and geological and physiographical features) or of any features of archaeological interest there; or
(b)the promotion of the enjoyment of the countryside by the public; or
(c)starting, or improving the productivity of, an agricultural, horticultural or forestry activity or a rural business; or
(d)starting, promoting or improving rural services.]
3.In order to take account of the developments relating to the total maximum amounts of direct payments that may be granted, including those resulting from the decisions taken F9... pursuant to [F10Article 7A and] Article 14, [F11the Secretary of State may make regulations] adapting the ceilings set out in Annex III.
[F124.The Secretary of State may not make regulations under paragraph 3 without the consent of each of the relevant authorities for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
5.Where the relevant authority for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland requests that the Secretary of State makes regulations under paragraph 3, the Secretary of State must have regard to that request.]]
Textual Amendments
F1Art. 7 omitted (W.) (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Direct Payments to Farmers and Rural Affairs (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1556), regs. 1(2)(a), 7(5); Art. 7 omitted (E.) (1.1.2021) by virtue of The Direct Payments to Farmers (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1513), regs. 1(2), 2(5); and Art. 7 omitted (S.) (1.1.2021) by virtue of The Direct Payments to Farmers (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/460), regs. 1(2), 2(5)
F2Word in Art. 7(1) substituted (31.1.2020) by The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(5)(a)
F3Words in Art. 7(1) substituted (31.1.2020) by The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(5)(b)(i)
F4Words in Art. 7(1) substituted (31.1.2020) by The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(5)(b)(ii)
F5Words in Art. 7(1) inserted (31.1.2020) by The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(5)(c)
F6Words in Art. 7(1) substituted (31.1.2020) by The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(5)(d)
F7Words in Art. 7(1) omitted (31.1.2020) by virtue of The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(5)(e)
F8Art. 7(2)(2A) substituted for Art. 7(2) (31.1.2020) by The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(6)
F9Words in Art. 7(3) omitted (31.1.2020) by virtue of The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(7)(a)
F10Words in Art. 7(3) inserted (31.1.2020) by Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Act 2020 (c. 2), ss. 5(3), 9(2)
F11Words in Art. 7(3) substituted (31.1.2020) by The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(7)(b)
F12Art. 7(4)(5) inserted (31.1.2020) by The Rules for Direct Payments to Farmers (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/91), regs. 1(2), 4(8)