Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the need to support local farmers who are crucial to the economy of North East Fife and face various challenges.
What steps she is taking to support rural farmers. I recently visited the Quaker Oats site in my constituency, which works very hard with a number of local farmers who provide the site and, outwith North East Fife, works hard on LEAF—Linking Environment and Farming—accreditation, providing sustainability initiatives for local farmers, but they are frustrated.
Agriculture is a devolved issue, and is the responsibility of the Scottish Government. Our farmers produce some of the best food in the world. In England, our environmental land management schemes are now open for them to access, and we will pay farmers to deliver positive environmental outcomes. We will also support the production of great British food, healthier soils and more pollinators.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to re-engaging on UK basis support
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question concerns the movement of cattle across borders and the need for a universal electronic tagging scheme.
Does he agree that a universal electronic tagging scheme that matches the whole of the UK, perhaps including Northern Ireland, would greatly facilitate this sort of sale of livestock?
I thank the hon. Member for his question. Obviously, I work closely with Mairi Gougeon in the Scottish Government. She will probably be disappointed to have been re-offered her job, despite its being offered to somebody else, but we will continue to have a positive working relationship there.
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Assessment & feedback
Agreement on universal electronic tagging scheme
Re-Offering The Job
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows up on co-operation across the UK and sustainability initiatives in the supply chain.
Will the Minister provide an update on that scheme and will he commit to re-engaging so that, on a UK basis, we can provide that support?
I thank the hon. Member for that question. Again, she highlights how important this is. I think farming is challenging enough, frankly, without our putting false barriers in place across the border between England and Scotland. We need to co-operate across the Union and make sure that farmers and food producers on both sides of the border have the opportunity to access the market without barriers.
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Assessment & feedback
Providing an update on the scheme
False Barriers
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses concerns about the use of mandatory rounds that can break both business farm tenancies and agricultural tenancies.
Does he share my concern that we are seeing an increasing use of mandatory rounds in relation to development, often for solar or tree planting, to break both business farm tenancies and agricultural tenancies that have inheritance attached to them?
I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. We have been working with Baroness Rock, who has been doing a review of farm-based tenancies, and we will respond to that review very soon.
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Assessment & feedback
Department's response to the review
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The question focuses on mental health issues affecting young farmers in rural areas, inspired by the work of Andy and Lynda Eadon.
Can I urge him to continue to apply pressure to land-based colleges and other educational institutions to make sure that mental health awareness is part of the educational experience of everyone entering agriculture?
I pay tribute to my right hon. and learned Friend's constituents for their support of mental health charities, particularly in memory of Leonard.
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Assessment & feedback
Pressure on educational institutions for mental health awareness
Tribute To Constituents
Response accuracy