The Rural Development Programme (Transfer) (England) Regulations 2018

• Citation: S.I. 2018/964
• Sections: 3

Section 1 Citation, commencement, extent and application

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Rural Development Programme (Transfer) (England) Regulations 2018 and come into force on 1st October 2018.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales but apply in relation to England only.

Section 2 Interpretation

(1) In these Regulations—

“Natural England” means the body established by section 1 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 ;

“relevant agreement” means any agreement made under—

the following Articles of Council Regulation ( EU ) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) —

Article 36(a)(iv) (agri-environment payments);

Article 36(a)(vi) (non-productive investments);

Article 52(a)(iii) (tourism activities);

Article 52(b)(iii) (conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage);

the following Articles of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) —

Article 17(1)(c) (infrastructure related to the development, modernisation or adaptation of agriculture and forestry);

Article 17(1)(d) (non-productive investments);

Article 20(1)(f) (but only in so far as it relates to studies and investments for the maintenance, restoration and upgrading of the cultural heritage of rural landscapes);

Article 21(1)(a) (afforestation and creation of woodland);

Article 21(1)(c) (prevention and restoration of damage to forests from natural disasters and catastrophic events, including pest and disease outbreaks);

Article 21(1)(d) (investments improving the resilience and environmental value of forest ecosystems);

Article 28(2) (agri-environment-climate payments);

Article 29(1) (organic farming payments);

Article 34(1) (forest-environment and climate payments);

Article 35(1)(a) (co-operation approaches among different actors) insofar as it relates to sub-paragraphs (xi) and (xii);

Article 35(2)(f) (joint action undertaken with a view to mitigating or adapting to climate change);

Article 35(2)(g) (joint approaches to environmental projects and ongoing environmental practices).

Section 3 Transfer from Natural England to the Secretary of State

(1) Every relevant agreement to which Natural England was a party immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations, whether or not in writing and whether of such nature that rights and liabilities under it could be assigned by Natural England, has effect as if—

(a) the Secretary of State were a party to the relevant agreement, and

(b) a reference to Natural England were a reference to the Secretary of State.

(2) All rights and liabilities that Natural England had or to which it was subject under any relevant agreement immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations are transferred to the Secretary of State.