Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Basic Payment Scheme: Farmers’ Income

Thursday 9 December 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sarah Olney asked about steps to support farmers losing income from the Basic Payment Scheme reduction.
  • Sarah Olney inquired about tenant farmers losing land to landlords benefiting from direct Government payments for rewilding.
  • Siobhan Baillie discussed the challenges faced by farmers despite introducing advanced technology, highlighting the need for continuous support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Farmers in Richmond Park are concerned about losing income due to progressive reductions in the Basic Payment Scheme. These concerns arise from a broader context where farm incomes have grown but new funding mechanisms are unclear.

Question

What steps he is taking to support farmers who will lose income as a result of progressive reductions to the Basic Payment Scheme?

Answer from George Eustice

Farm incomes have grown significantly since 2016, with record-high prices in sectors like beef, sheep and arable. The Government maintains the agriculture budget throughout this Parliament but will spend it more effectively. Farmers will access new funds next year to help them invest sustainably through the sustainable farming incentive.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific support measures for farmers losing income due to Basic Payment Scheme reductions

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Q2 Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Tenant farmers are facing challenges due to landlords potentially receiving direct payments for rewilding or doing nothing, reducing tenant farmers' land availability and income. This is exacerbated by a quarter loss in current income and only a promise of replacement payments seven years later.

Question

We hear stories of landlords turfing out their tenant farmers because the transition makes it possible for them to receive payments directly from the Government for rewilding or doing nothing, which means that the farmers who are producing our food will not have enough land to farm. How is it possible for tenant farmers to survive if they lose a quarter of their income now and only get a promise of replacement in seven years?

Answer from George Eustice

The sustainable farming incentive is designed to be accessible for tenant farmers, and we have worked closely with the Tenant Farmers Association. Some EU agri-environment schemes were carried out by landlords but funded through farmer contributions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific survival strategies for tenant farmers facing income loss

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Q3 Siobhan Baillie
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Farmers in Stroud are concerned about the transition period to new environmental land management schemes, citing lack of time and understanding. State-of-the-art robotics have been introduced but farm labour remains scarce.

Question

I had a useful meeting with Stroud farmers and the National Farmers Union recently at a fantastic dairy farm that has introduced state-of-the-art robotics and transformed its practice. We know however, that even with fancy-pants technology, farmers work around the clock and farm labour is almost non-existent at the moment, so I was not surprised to hear nerves about finding time to apply for new schemes and getting their heads around them. What support is available from the Department?

Answer from George Eustice

My hon Friend makes an important point. Last year, we provided funding to consultants and advisers across the country to help all farmers with transition advice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific support mechanisms for transitioning to new schemes

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