division_name: Leaving the Eu: The Rural Economy
motion: <p class="indent" pid="a828.3/2" pwmotiontext="yes">That this House is concerned at the possible impact upon the rural economy of the Government&#8217;s aim for the UK to leave the EU; and calls upon the Government to present to Parliament a clear statement of its aims for the rural economy in negotiations with the EU prior to triggering Article 50, and to give assurances on the future of agriculture, particularly with regard to funding, and fisheries after 2020.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a830.6/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;The UK government will continue to give farmers and the environment as much support&#8212;or perhaps even more&#8212;as they get now&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a834.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;recognises the importance of the rural economy to the UK, not least the food, farming and fishing sector which is worth &#163;108 billion to the economy and employs 3.8 million people in communities across the whole of the UK; welcomes the continuity and certainty the Government has provided by guaranteeing the same level of funding to the agricultural sector that it would have received under Pillar 1 of the Common Agricultural Policy until the end of the current Multiannual Financial Framework in 2020; further welcomes the Government&#8217;s undertaking that all structural and investment fund projects, including agri-environment schemes and schemes under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund that offer good value and fit with domestic objectives and are signed while the UK remains a member of the EU will be honoured for their lifetime even when this is beyond the UK&#8217;s departure from the EU; welcomes the opportunity that leaving the EU will bring to improve the management of fisheries in UK waters and to champion sustainable fishing; supports the continued investment in superfast broadband and the introduction of a Universal Service Obligation; shares the Government&#8217;s commitment to securing a deal in leaving the EU that works for all parts of the UK; and notes that one of the best ways of supporting rural communities is by having a strong economy that works for everyone.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a853.0/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;We believe that the EU Commission rely on a fear culture to achieve compliance with a complex set of regulations. The fear culture transcends through to Paying Agencies (fear of disallowance), inspectors (fear of audit failure) and beneficiaries (fear of unintended compliance failures and financial penalties).&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a856.0/6" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;if they want to do to rural communities what was done to the miners, let them&#8230;do so with their eyes open.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a858.0/7" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Careful and precise statements are needed now more than ever.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="a858.0/9" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;The livestock producers which make up the vast majority of Welsh farmers are particularly reliant on exports to the continent, and we have made it clear since the referendum that full and unfettered access is essential to Wales.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="italic" pid="a865.0/21" pwmotiontext="yes">The House divided:</p>
  
  <p pid="a865.0/22" pwmotiontext="yes">Ayes 212, Noes 287.</p>