I thank the noble Lord. I have dealt with the issue of further financial assistance.
The noble Lord, Lord Grantchester, raised areas where different Governments are engaged in regulating the same area. We are working closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in developing the instruments. The European rural development fund and the European social fund have domestic power to continue making payments following exit. This is not the case for the European agricultural fund for rural development or the European maritime and fisheries fund, which rely on the spending powers in the EU regulations. That shows the distinction. A different approach is therefore necessary to allow funds to continue operating under the Treasury guarantee.
The noble Lord also asked why the provisions do not apply to the European rural, development, social and cohesive funds. They are being addressed in a separate SI by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. That SI and others will be developed in your Lordships’ House on 14 March.
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The noble Lord, Lord Grantchester, asked about consultations. On 25 September 2018 Defra met the Rural Payments Agency industry partnership group. The stakeholders present were the Tenant Farmers Association, the Country Land and Business Association, the Farming Community Network, the Institute of Agricultural Secretaries and Administrators, the British Institute of Agricultural Consultants and the National Farmers’ Union. A subsequent meeting was held on 26 November 2018 between Defra and the Rural Payments Agency IPG, as detailed above, updating stakeholders further on legislative progress in preparing for exit. On fisheries, a targeted engagement was carried out on the approach to amendments involving key stakeholders from the fisheries sector, the food industry and environmental non-governmental bodies. In addition, a 10-week consultation was conducted through the fisheries White Paper.
As for the devolved Administrations, these instruments have been developed in collaboration with officials in the Scottish and Welsh devolved Administrations and the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. They have discretion to consult with their stakeholders, as it is a devolved matter.