Topical Questions 2025-12-18

2025-12-18

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Context
Farmers in Maldon constituency are struggling with Labour's family farm tax, which impacts their ability to pass on farms to the next generation. This issue was previously discussed during a radio debate.
While wishing the Minister, and indeed all hon. Members and staff, a very happy Christmas, may I tell her that many of my farming constituents will not be celebrating as they gather with their families because their hopes of passing on their farms to their children have been made impossible by Labour's family farm tax? She has already heard from some of them when she and I did 'Any Questions?' in Essex a few months ago, but will she now, once again, try to persuade the Chancellor to withdraw this punitive and damaging measure?
We are making these changes because the top 7% of estates account for 40% of inheritance tax reliefs—that is £219 million for the top 37 landowners—and we think that is unfair.
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the specific request to persuade the Chancellor to withdraw the family farm tax.
We Are Making These Changes Because...
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Q2 Partial Answer
Jayne Kirkham Lab/Co-op
Truro and Falmouth
Context
The Labour party committed to ending cruel practices such as puppy smuggling, phasing out animal testing, and banning fur imports.
Merry Christmas to everybody in the Chamber and beyond. I was very proud to stand on a manifesto that committed to end cruel practices such as puppy smuggling and to phase out animal testing and ban fur imports. Is the Secretary of State able to update the House with a little more detail on the progress of the animal welfare strategy and the dates when we may expect the legislation to follow?
I am pleased to confirm that the animal welfare strategy will be published before Christmas, and I will have more to say about that shortly in the House. The strategy will set out our priorities until 2030 and take forward the manifesto commitments on which Government Members stood.
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Q3 Partial Answer
Victoria Atkins Con
Louth and Horncastle
Context
There is a food and farming emergency with rising food prices, record farm closures, and the loss of pubs and restaurants.
We are in a food and farming emergency, with rising food prices, record farm closures and two pubs or restaurants closing every single day. A month ago, the Conservatives held an emergency summit to ask farmers, fishermen and food producers for the urgent solutions they need to survive the next 12 months. Those included launching their sustainable farming incentive scheme, rolling over the fruit and veg scheme, and setting up a scheme to ensure that livestock farmers can afford to feed their animals over winter, as well as axing the family farm tax. I sent those solutions to the Secretary of State hoping that she would do something, but I have still heard nothing back a month later. There has been no action or response from her to that letter.
In the first instance, I urge the right hon. Lady to check her emails, as I sent a detailed response to her letter. We are setting out in the new year our next iteration of the SFI, in close collaboration with the farming sector, and we will also set out our 25-year farming road map.
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific details or actions regarding the letter sent by Victoria Atkins.
In The First Instance, I Urge The Right Hon. Lady To Check Her Emails...
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Q4 Partial Answer
Josh Newbury Lab
Cannock Chase
Context
The Batters review has been published, which discusses ways to improve the profitability of farms.
Merry Christmas to you and your team, Mr Speaker. Alongside many colleagues on the Government Benches who are passionate about farming, I will continue to argue for a rethink on inheritance tax, but I back this Government and their mission to improve the profitability of our farms. We are speeding up planning, tackling unfair supply chain practices, unlocking finance and boosting exports. Does the Minister agree that the findings of the Batters review mean that we can finally turn a page on dwindling farm incomes and unleash benefits for farmers, the rural economy and our nation’s food security?
That is absolutely true. Stepping forward with confidence into the future using new agritech techniques, diversifying farm income and seeing what we can do in partnership with the industry, as Baroness Batters’ report says this morning, is the way forward; talking down the industry and covering it in doom and gloom is not.
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Q5 Partial Answer
Terry Jermy Lab
South West Norfolk
Context
Farmers are struggling with slow and expensive processes for obtaining water abstraction licences and permits.
Merry Christmas, Mr Speaker, and I hope you get to enjoy a turkey from Norfolk. Water availability is increasingly important for my farmers, and Conservative austerity and cuts to the Environment Agency made obtaining water abstraction licences and permits painfully slow and often expensive. Can the Minister provide an update on work to speed up that process so that farmers are not kept waiting for important decisions?
My hon. Friend raises a really important point. I was delighted to meet a number of water abstraction groups—who might not be the WAGs most people think of—to talk about some of the work they are doing as farmers to make farms more resilient. It is a hugely important issue, and just this week, the Minister for Housing and Planning has talked about how we are going to make the rules for farmers creating their own reservoirs simpler and more straightforward, so that we can build resilience.
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Q6 Partial Answer
John Milne LD
Horsham
Context
Biodiversity net gain has helped restore habitat, leveraged private investment and supported jobs. However, the Government's intention to exempt developments under 0.2 hectares risks undermining these benefits.
Merry Christmas to you and your team, Mr Speaker. In just its first year, biodiversity net gain has helped restore the equivalent of 7,300 football pitches of habitat, leveraged over £320 million of private investment and supported more than 4,400 jobs. However, the Government’s intention to exempt developments under 0.2 hectares risks killing off this new industry just as it is beginning to thrive. This is a major Government U-turn, and the consequences for environmental projects in my constituency will be severe. Will the Minister reconsider?
I am unable to provide an immediate response on this matter as I was not directly addressed by Mr Speaker for a question. The Minister did not address the specific request in her responses.
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide any direct answer or reassessment regarding the exemptions mentioned.
I Am Unable To Provide An Immediate Response On This Matter...
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Q7 Direct Answer
Claire Hazelgrove Lab
Filton and Bradley Stoke
Context
The Western forest, the first new national forest in 30 years, will be planted across Claire Hazelgrove's constituency to provide benefits such as increasing access for local people and preventing flooding.
Over the Christmas break, many of us across my constituency will enjoy getting out for a good walk in nature. I am particularly pleased that our Labour Government have confirmed that the first new national forest for 30 years, the Western forest, will be planted across our region, making it even easier for more people to do that in future. Will the Minister please set out how the early stages of the programme are progressing, and share more about the plans for this new forest and the benefits it will bring for local people?
The hot news is that the Secretary of State has planted an oak tree there and I have planted an apple tree there, so I feel that as a Department, we have done our bit. It is a brilliant forest providing lots of different ecosystem services, from agroforestry to increasing access for local people and, critically, preventing flooding. The initial sites include Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire, and when it is completed, the forest will serve over 2.5 million residents, bringing trees much closer to where they live.
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Q8 Partial Answer
Julie Minns Lab
Carlisle
Context
A recent outbreak of avian flu near Wetheral in Ms Minns' constituency affected 43,000 birds and required the culling of the entire flock. The Minister is concerned about the possibility that the turkey vaccination trial will not conclude in time for a vaccine roll-out for the next season.
A recent outbreak of avian flu near Wetheral in my constituency affected 43,000 birds and required the culling of the entire flock. Although I welcome the turkey vaccination trial, I am concerned that it will not conclude in time for the vaccine to be rolled out for the next avian flu season. Will the Minister set out what steps she is taking to remove the regulatory barriers that might prevent a roll-out in time for the next avian flu season?
We have to get the science right on vaccination trials. The turkey trial is being carried out because this is one of our most valuable stocks, so we cannot rush it. I would not want to get our turkey industry into a situation where the vaccination trial was rushed and we were not sure of the response, because if there is not international recognition of vaccinations, it destroys the trade.
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Q9 Partial Answer
Ellie Chowns Green
North Herefordshire
Context
The Minister has ensured the release of a diffuse water pollution plan for the River Wye catchment that specifies an 85% reduction in phosphate is needed. However, full implementation of all existing measures will not achieve this.
I thank the Minister for ensuring the release of the diffuse water pollution plan for the River Wye catchment. The plan specifies that an 85% reduction in phosphate is needed. It also says that full implementation of all existing measures will not get anywhere close to that, yet it fails to evaluate the option of a water protection zone. Will the Minister urgently meet me and other cross-party Wye catchment MPs to discuss how we can progress the solution of a water protection zone?
The hon. Lady has raised this important point with me, and she will know my commitment to the River Wye following my visit. One recommendation is to explore the feasibility of a water protection zone. This would be a complex undertaking, and the Environment Agency is currently considering it. In the first instance, it might be wise to meet the Environment Agency, but if that is unsatisfactory, and she wants to meet me, I can arrange that.
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