Agriculture (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2021.

These Regulations, which apply to England only, are made under the Agriculture Act 2020 (c.21). The Secretary of State has the power to give financial assistance to farmers, foresters and other beneficiaries responsible for the management of land for purposes listed in section 1(1) and (2) of that Act. Such purposes include, but are not limited to, environmental protection and enhancement, public access to the countryside and measures to safeguard livestock and plants. These Regulations make provision for the award of financial assistance under four financial assistance schemes: the environmental land management pilot scheme (reg. 7), the countryside stewardship scheme (reg. 8), the farming investment fund scheme, and the tree health pilot scheme (together referred to as “the schemes”).
Under Regulation 3 the Secretary of State must check that any person applying for financial assistance under one of the schemes meets the eligibility criteria for that scheme. Additional information can be asked under Regulations 4 and 5 by the Secretary of State. If certain conditions are not met, the Secretary of State must refuse to award financial assistance (reg. 6). If the Secretary of State refuses to award financial assistance, the applicant has the right to apply for a reconsideration of that decision under regulation 30.
Regulation 9 imposes a duty on an agreement holder receiving financial assistance under the schemes to provide information or evidence. Regulation 12 makes provision for the transfer of agreements provided certain conditions are met. Regulations 15 and 16 enable the Secretary of State to carry out inspections to verify that the person entitled to financial assistance is complying with the conditions of their agreement. Regulations 17, 18 and 19 provide powers of entry and inspection to enforce compliance with the conditions of scheme agreements.