Devolved regions of the UK will continue to receive a larger than usual share of farm support funds after Brexit, Defra secretary Michael Gove has said.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Gove said that a review of agricultural funding across the UK is due shortly, but he committed to not dividing post-Brexit funds among regions based on population size (known as the Barnett formula).

At present, NI receives 9.2% of the UK’s CAP funding allocation, but would only be entitled to 3% if funds are divided by population.

“One thing I can guarantee is that agricultural funding will not be Barnettised. The rightly generous settlement which gives NI, Scotland and Wales more than England will be defended,” Gove said.

During the second reading of the government’s agriculture bill, criticism came from some MPs about the absence of a funding commitment in the bill.

“Green Brexit will soon wither on the vine without any commitment written into the bill to maintain the current levels of spending. This is something that farmers and green campaigners are in complete alignment on,” said Labour MP Sue Hayman.

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