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Farming and Food Security

08 October 2024

Lead MP

Steve Barclay

Debate Type

General Debate

At a Glance

Steve Barclay raised concerns about farming and food security in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Lead Contributor

Steve Barclay

Opened the debate

The debate recognises the challenges faced by British farmers due to wet weather and rising costs. It notes that £50 million of additional Farming Recovery Fund support has not been paid out, and expresses concern over potential budget cuts. The motion calls on the Government to confirm full funding for flood recovery, technology and productivity schemes, and protect agricultural land from inappropriate development. Food security is emphasised as a national security issue.

Steve Barclay Con

North East Cambridgeshire

Acknowledging the impact of extreme weather on British agriculture, Steve Barclay highlights that England has experienced record rainfall and poor harvests. He calls for full implementation of announced support measures, including flood protection funding and technology grants, while criticising potential budget cuts. He also emphasises the importance of food security in an uncertain global context.

Edward Leigh Con

Gainsborough

Edward Leigh raises concerns about the concentration of solar farms around Gainsborough, suggesting that all applications should be considered together to avoid negative impacts on local communities and ecosystems. He questions whether such developments are being properly evaluated.

Rachel Gilmour Lib Dem

Tiverton and Minehead

Rachel Gilmour expresses dissatisfaction with the Government's approach towards farmers, stating that they feel betrayed by previous actions and policies. She calls for better collaboration between political parties to address agricultural issues effectively.

Steve Reed Lab Co-op

Streatham and Croydon North

Farmers were let down by the previous government which offered only temporary fixes. The current government aims to correct this with better long-term support, including assistance for tenant farmers, addressing climate change impacts like flooding, and fostering cooperation across regions such as Northern Ireland.

Jesse Norman Con

Hereford and South Herefordshire

Asked the Secretary of State to ensure that funding allocated for the River Wye action plan remains available and requested the reappointment of the current river champion who has been doing excellent work.

Kevin Hollinrake Con

Thirsk and Malton

Criticised the government’s support for solar farms on tenant farmland, suggesting that it could deprive farmers of their livelihoods. He urged the Secretary of State to commit to preventing this practice.

Graham Stuart Con

Beverley and Holderness

Called for immediate action regarding recovery fund disbursement and support for internal drainage boards, emphasising the need for swift measures to help farmers in crisis situations.

Jim Allister TUV

North Antrim

Highlighted that Northern Ireland's agrifood industry is governed by laws made outside of its control, questioning how this situation can be considered democratic and what it means for shaping the industry to meet local needs.

Alistair Strathern Lab

Hitchin

Asked for reassurance that proper mitigation measures will be taken against flooding. Emphasised the need for coordinated, multi-agency responses in flood aftermaths and long-term prevention efforts.

Tim Farron Lib Dem

Westmorland and Lonsdale

Farmers are critical for food production, environmental health, and economic support, but face challenges such as the underspend in the environmental land management scheme. Urges the government to protect farmers' financial stability and not bake underspends into future budgets.

Andrew Murrison Con

South West Wiltshire

Intervenes to ask about labelling of British food in supermarkets, suggesting that better information for consumers could support farmers.

Anna Sabine Lib Dem

Frome and East Somerset

Supports the role of farmers in restoring nature and mitigating climate change and urges the government to back natural climate solutions for farmers.

Rachel Taylor Lab

North Warwickshire and Bedworth

Highlights the high suicide rate among male farmers due to mental health issues caused by factors such as farm inspections leading to criminal sanctions, emphasising the need for government support.

George Freeman Con

Mid Norfolk

Intervenes to highlight the importance of a strategic framework under ELMs for young farmers focused on habitat and conservation.

Robin Swann UUP

South Antrim

Points out that mental health is the biggest concern among 95% of farmers under 40, emphasising the worry over financial stability and future generations.

Markus Campbell-Savours Ind

Penrith and Solway

Agrees with Tim Farron's points but emphasises that the real challenge lies in getting the budget out to farmers effectively, rather than just having it.

Julie Minns Lab

Carlisle

Supports efforts against rural crime and congratulates Cumbria’s rural crime team on their one-year anniversary.

John Whitby Lab

Derbyshire Dales

Addressed the housing crisis in his constituency, highlighting high house prices due to second homes and holiday lets. Paid tribute to predecessors and discussed key industries including tourism and agriculture. Emphasised the need for a veterinary agreement with the EU, food security, and reducing waiting lists in healthcare. Mentioned local charities and organisations making a difference. Highlighted challenges faced by young people entering adulthood.

Judith Cummins Lab

Bradford South

Called for strict adherence to time limits due to pressure on the debate schedule, allowing only three minutes for speeches excluding maiden speeches.

John Hayes Con

South Holland and The Deepings

Argued for rebalancing power in the food chain towards primary producers. Advocated for a strategy focused on food security alongside energy security, emphasising domestic production to ensure food supply stability. Discussed the importance of automation and integration without excluding small farmers. Called for better procurement practices supporting British produce and urged for non-partisan discussions.

Luke Charters Lab

York Outer

The Government’s work on food security transcends the work of a single Department, from seeking to secure a new veterinary agreement to launching GB Energy, which will lower production costs. We are also paving the way on flood resilience. I visited a fantastic carrot farm in York Outer, but I was gobsmacked to hear that in a bad year of flooding it can lose a quarter of its crop. Water scarcity is a critical issue. There are real pressures, despite the wettest 18 months on record. It must be 30 years since we last built a reservoir, and farmers struggle from drought, too.

Catherine Fookes Lab

Monmouthshire

Many Labour Members are supportive of farmers. I am a proud farmer’s daughter and I am delighted to speak in this debate. The previous Government sold farmers down the river. We had disastrous trade deals and they suffer from terrible weather—we can, at least, say that that was not the Tories’ fault. If we are to support Welsh farmers, they need a strong financial package.

Roz Savage Lib Dem

South Cotswolds

The newly elected Member of Parliament for South Cotswolds highlights the importance of agriculture in her constituency, noting that 87% of land within the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty is dedicated to agriculture. She mentions the region's traditional farming practices and innovative approaches towards sustainable and regenerative agriculture, such as zero dig farming methods at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester. However, she expresses concern over a lack of long-term strategy for farmers who need certainty beyond electoral cycles. Additionally, she discusses challenges in attracting young people to farming, with only 15% under 45 years old and highlights initiatives like sustain circles aiming to meet community needs locally through innovative projects such as pressurised greenhouses on former landfill sites. She also addresses the issue of sewage pollution affecting rivers and communities, urging Thames Water and Ofwat for urgent upgrades in wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Ben Goldsborough Lab

South Norfolk

It is an honour to follow the hon. Member for South Cotswolds, who spoke passionately about the environment. Ben highlights the importance of food security in South Norfolk and across the UK, acknowledging the hard work of local farmers. He emphasises the need for innovation through organisations such as the Norwich research park, specifically mentioning the John Innes Centre's gene editing techniques to boost crop yields and resilience against climate change. Goldsborough welcomes government action on precision breeding and calls for planning reform to help farmers build reservoirs for water security. He also discusses biodiversity net-gain regulations that are currently slowing progress on food production.

David Chadwick Lib Dem

Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe

Chadwick introduces himself as the first ever MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, a large constituency spanning rural mid-Wales and parts of the Swansea valley. He pays tribute to his predecessors and highlights various towns in his constituency, including those that host important events like the Royal Welsh show. Chadwick expresses concern about the NHS's poor performance in Wales compared to England and criticises budget cuts proposed by the Welsh Government. He calls for better recognition of local food systems and supports initiatives like Riverford’s campaign against misleading supermarket brands. Additionally, he advocates for the revival of industrial jobs and the establishment of a global centre for rail excellence in Onllwyn. Chadwick concludes by thanking his partner, son, and unborn child.

Luke Taylor Lib Dem

Sutton and Cheam

The constituency is the smallest of all 72 Liberal Democrat constituencies, with its boundaries unchanged for 80 years. It has a diverse community including recyclers, repairers, litter pickers, local football teams like Sutton United FC, and various religious communities. The social contract in Britain has been broken due to cynicism and self-interest replacing service and duty. There is much work to be done on fixing issues such as the NHS, social care, education, policing, and infrastructure. A particular concern is the £1 million-worth of funding cuts that would impact hospices like St Raph’s.

Mike Reader Lab

Northampton South

Paid respects to a resident who died in the recent floods and thanked the Secretary of State for visiting Northamptonshire. Noted that over 1,000 residents were evacuated due to flooding. Acknowledged the support from colleagues but criticised Labour's previous policies as contributing to a £22-billion deficit. Emphasised Labour's commitment to farmers through initiatives such as the all-party parliamentary group for food and membership in NFU’s fellowship. Advocated for a cross-sector approach to food security, including manufacturing, logistics, retail, and hospitality. Highlighted local statistics showing nearly 10% of people struggling with food access and 45% of rural residents worrying about food prices. Called for collaborative work across parties to support the agrifood industry.

Louise Jones Lab

North East Derbyshire

Intervened to agree that Labour MPs with farming backgrounds, and their representation in rural seats, make them true champions of the farming community.

Andrew Pakes Lab Co-op

Peterborough

Called for investment in food and farming jobs as part of Labour's new deal for farmers to bring prosperity to constituencies. Criticised the previous Conservative Government for scrapping Labour’s food plan in 2010.

Neil Hudson Con

Epping Forest

Praised UK farmers and their high animal welfare standards, emphasising the importance of food security as a national security issue. Urged the Government to act on EFRA Committee’s report recommendations for annual food security reports and full redevelopment of APHA. Highlighted issues such as biosecurity, fertiliser production resilience, and mental health support in farming communities. Advocated for protecting the farming budget and supporting flooded communities through initiatives like the NFU's Buy British campaign.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Con

North Cotswolds

Intervened to emphasise the need for proper capital investment in biosecurity infrastructure, citing the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry on this issue.

Christopher Vince Lab Co-op

Harlow

Called on Neil Hudson to champion YANA, a charity supporting mental health in farming communities, given their shared constituency interests.

George Freeman Con

Mid Norfolk

Agreed with Neil Hudson's emphasis on high welfare standards set by British agriculture and praised the previous Government for passing legislation improving animal transport standards.

Markus Campbell-Savours Ind

Penrith and Solway

Asked what went wrong in terms of implementing 'Buy British' initiatives as promised in the 2019 Conservative manifesto.

Rachel Taylor Lab

North Warwickshire and Bedworth

Rural communities feel let down by the Conservative party due to a lack of support for farmers. The agriculture and food industry contributes £148 billion to the economy, providing 4.2 million jobs, yet the previous government failed to allocate necessary funds and caused a cost-of-living crisis that affected families' ability to purchase fresh food. Farmers faced escalating energy prices and fertiliser costs under the previous government's environmental land management schemes which created uncertainty. Rural crime has spiralled out of control with fly-tipping and theft affecting farmers, but there is hope in a new cross-Government rural crime strategy.

Carla Lockhart DUP

Upper Bann

Supports 27,000 farming families across Northern Ireland who produce high-quality food with respect for animal welfare and the environment. However, challenges arise from the protocol and Windsor framework creating uncertainty in trade and supply chains between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Farmers face difficulties due to rising costs and volatility, requiring a ring-fenced support package adjusted for inflation around £389 million. Urges the Government to address issues such as veterinary medicine shortages and transport regulations that hinder farmers.

Chris Hinchliff Lab

North East Hertfordshire

Critiques the Conservative party's inability to bolster national food security, mentioning concerns over ground-mounted solar schemes on farmland. Highlights previous government failures such as low rooftop solar adoption and closure of county farms which were crucial for new farmers entering agriculture.

Robbie Moore Con

Keighley and Ilkley

Argues that food security is critical for national defence, criticises Labour's underfunding of agriculture with specific examples like the delayed distribution of £50 million and £75 million funds. Expresses concern about future budget cuts and urges the Secretary of State to support British farmers.

Daniel Zeichner Lab

Cambridge

Closes the debate by expressing gratitude towards hardworking farmers, paying tribute to new Members for their maiden speeches. Criticises the previous Conservative government's failures in supporting rural communities and farmers, promising a long-term strategy that works with farmers to boost resilience against climate change.

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