Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Environmental Land Management Schemes

Thursday 23 February 2023 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister committed to publishing more information on environmental land management schemes this year.
  • Further details on sustainable farming incentive and countryside stewardship scheme will be available by summer.
  • Minister acknowledged Jeremy Clarkson's television programme for highlighting challenges in the agricultural sector.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question arises from concerns about the clarity and detail of support measures available to farmers under new environmental initiatives.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support farmers through environmental land management schemes. I know from the National Farmers Union conference this week and from conversations with the Buckinghamshire committee of the Country Land and Business Association that detail is still missing that would give farmers the long-term certainty they need.

Answer from Mark Spencer

We will continue to publish more information on our environmental land management schemes this year. That includes further details by the summer on the new actions that will be made available through the sustainable farming incentive and the countryside stewardship scheme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The exact timing and full detail of specific measures were not provided, only a general commitment to publish more information by the summer.

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Q2 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP highlights ongoing concerns among farmers about the lack of detailed information necessary to make informed decisions under new agricultural policies.

Question

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer. The £168 million farming investment fund, the six new standards in the SFI and the ELMS prospectus are good news and good progress, but I know from the National Farmers Union conference this week and from conversations with the Buckinghamshire committee of the Country Land and Business Association that detail is still missing that would give farmers the long-term certainty they need. I urge him to get the full detail of the schemes on the table as soon as possible.

Answer from Mark Spencer

We will continue to publish more information on our environmental land management schemes this year. That includes further details by the summer on the new actions that will be made available through the sustainable farming incentive and the countryside stewardship scheme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific detail requested was not provided, only a general commitment to publish more information by the summer.

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Q3 Barry Sheerman Lab
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP references a popular television programme hosted by Jeremy Clarkson that provides an insight into the difficulties faced by farmers in modern agriculture.

Question

I am not usually a fan of Jeremy Clarkson, but I have been absolutely addicted to his television programme and the ventures of Diddly Squat farm. Does the Minister agree that that programme gives people a real insight into the bureaucracy and complications of the schemes? It is very complicated for farmers who want to earn a living and feed the nation. Will he visit Clarkson's farm to give him a bit of support?

Answer from Mark Spencer

I join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to Mr Clarkson and what he is doing to advertise what is happening in the agricultural sector and some of the challenges it faces. The hon. Gentleman should bear in mind that the series was filmed before we announced lots of the detail about our ELM schemes, so some of the criticisms that are levelled at the Department have now been resolved and that information is out there.

Not addressed: The request to visit Clarkson's farm for support was not addressed directly.

How: Changing Subject, Providing Historical Context

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