Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - Primary Legislation

Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill

The Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill was formally introduced by the Declan McAleer, MLA on 16 February 2026.  The Bill completed its Second Stage on Monday 23rd March 2026, and was referred to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for scrutiny (the Committee Stage of the Bill).

The Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill proposes the reintroduction of payments to farmers operating in Areas with Natural Constraints (ANCs). The policy objectives of the Bill are to: 

    • Compensate farmers for all or part of the additional costs and income foregone due to production constraints in ANCs;
    • Alleviate the burden of production costs in these difficult farming environments;
    • Address the reduction in agricultural opportunities for those farming in designated ANC areas; and
    • Better promote equality of opportunity for farmers in these regions

Further information on the Bill can be found below:

An Explanatory and Financial Memorandum (EFM) is a document that accompanies a bill. It provides a detailed explanation of the bill's purpose, background, policy objectives, and its potential financial, human rights, and other impacts.

 

Call for Evidence

As part of the Assembly’s legislative processes, the Assembly’s Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs will now consider and take evidence on the Bill and report its opinion to the Assembly. This is known as the 'Committee Stage' of the Bill. It is the responsibility of the Assembly's Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to take forward the Committee Stage.

As part of the Committee Stage, the Committee is seeking views from stakeholders on the objectives, proposals and potential consequences of the Bill and would welcome your views and comments on its contents.

 

Consultation Closed

The Committee's consultation on the Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill closed on 6 July 2026. The Committee thanks all those who submitted responses. The views received will inform its scrutiny of the Bill and any recommendations made during the legislative process.

Responses received as part of the Call for Evidence will be made publicly available in due course and can be accessed here.

If you have any questions, please contact the Committee using the details below.

 

Useful Information

 

Quick Links 

 

Contact Us

If you have any queries or require any further information about the call for evidence or the Committee Stage of the Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill, please contact the Committee Clerk, Dr Janice Thompson.

Address: Room 285, Parliament Buildings,
Ballymiscaw,Stormont,
Belfast, BT4 3XX

Email: Committee.AgriEnvRural@niassembly.gov.uk

Telephone: (028) 90 521369