Agriculture Act 2020

Power to modify legislation governing the basic payment schemeE+W

2(1)The Welsh Ministers may by regulations modify legislation governing the basic payment scheme, so far as it operates in relation to Wales, for or in connection with making changes the Welsh Ministers consider would serve any one or more of the following purposes—E+W

(a)simplifying the administration of the scheme or otherwise making its operation more efficient or effective;

(b)removing provisions which are spent or of no practical utility;

(c)removing or reducing burdens, or the overall burdens, on persons applying for, or entitled to, direct payments under the scheme or otherwise improving the way that the scheme operates in relation to them;

(d)securing that any sanction or penalty imposed under the scheme is appropriate and proportionate;

(e)limiting the application of the scheme to land in Wales only.

(2)The provision which may be made under sub-paragraph (1) includes provision made for or in connection with terminating greening payments in relation to Wales so long as that provision does not reduce the amount of a direct payment to which a person would have been entitled had the provision not been made.

(3)In this paragraph, “burden” includes—

(a)a financial cost;

(b)an administrative inconvenience;

(c)an obstacle to efficiency, productivity or profitability.

(4)Regulations under this paragraph are subject to negative resolution procedure (unless section 50(5) applies).

Commencement Information

I1Sch. 5 para. 2 in force at Royal Assent for specified purposes and otherwise at 11.1.2021, see s. 57(1)(b)(c)(6)