Source · National Audit Office
Early review of the new farming programme
Published: 5 Jun 2019
Recommendations: 4
Type: Value for Money
NAO confirmed: 4
Department: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
This report examines Defra’s approach to developing the Future Farming and Countryside Programme.
Recommendations
| Rec | Recommendation | Addressee | Acceptance | Implementation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Defra should:
a) get in place a plan with realistic timescales, that is based on a full understanding of interdependencies, and that has sufficient flexibility to allow changes to be made as more is learned about how farmers react to the new framework;
Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point a
|
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Accepted | Not relevant ✓ NAO |
| 2 |
b) ensure that its decisions on which outcomes the government wishes to prioritise, and the associated payment mechanisms, are taken in good time for the pilot starting in 2021, so it has a solid basis for preparing the digital infrastructure and farmers have enough time to adapt their businesses and develop their plans;
Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point b
· Implemented Q4 2021-22
|
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Accepted | Implemented ✓ NAO |
| 3 |
c) extend participation in the tests and trials to include a wider range of farmers and other land managers, to test the willingness and ability of individual farmers to participate in ELMS and so provide more confidence that a reasonable level of take-up will be achieved; and
Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point c
· Implemented Q4 2024-25
|
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Accepted | Implemented ✓ NAO |
| 4 |
d) determine the level of ELMS take-up it needs to justify its investment in the design and development of ELMS and consider what alternative arrangements are needed if this is not achieved.
Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point d
· Implemented Q4 2021-22
|
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | Accepted | Implemented ✓ NAO |