Compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights
The Government considers that the Act is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR"). Accordingly the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Lord Gardiner of Kimble, Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have made a statements under section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998 to this effect.
	The Act enables Direct Payments to be paid to farmers, depending on the number of entitlements held. It therefore engages Article 1 of Protocol 1, but as the Act preserves the status quo, there is no interference.