Farm Business Identification Numbers

Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 3 February 2020.

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Photo of George Robinson George Robinson DUP 3:00, 3 February 2020

6. Mr Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether he will review the process for allocating identification numbers to farm businesses. (AQO 20/17-22)

Photo of Edwin Poots Edwin Poots DUP

Case numbers were required by European Commission regulations and, as we have now left the EU, my officials will take the opportunity to review the allocation process. Where possible, they will simplify and streamline the process to reduce both the administrative burden on farmers applying for business ID and the length of time that they have to wait for ID after applying, while still making sure that business IDs are only allocated to authentic farm businesses.

The process of allocating business IDs allows my officials to ensure that funding goes to genuine and separate farm businesses and that farm businesses are not artificially created to claim grants to which they are not entitled or to avoid legal obligations at farm level.

Photo of Patsy McGlone Patsy McGlone Social Democratic and Labour Party

There is time for a very brief supplementary question and answer.

Photo of George Robinson George Robinson DUP

Does the Minister agree that members of the young farmers' scheme who have been working on the farm and are taking it over or inheriting it are disadvantaged by the six-year rule under CTY 10, which prevents them applying for planning permission for a dwelling, and that could seriously affect their ability to operate their business?

Photo of Edwin Poots Edwin Poots DUP 3:15, 3 February 2020

Each farm is allowed to make an application every 10 years, and that goes with the farm, not with the individual. If there are two separate and distinct farms, they will be able to apply for two sites every 10 years. However, it needs to be the case that there is a separate and distinct farm unit.

Photo of Patsy McGlone Patsy McGlone Social Democratic and Labour Party

That ends the period for listed questions. We now move to 15 minutes of topical questions.