Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Rural Farmers

Thursday 30 March 2023 · 5 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

  • Ministerial responses highlighted support for farmers through environmental land management schemes in England.
  • The Minister emphasized the importance of cooperation across the border between England and Scotland to avoid barriers for farmers.
  • Pressure is being applied to land-based colleges and other educational institutions to ensure mental health awareness is part of the educational experience for those entering agriculture.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
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.

Question

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.

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to re-engaging on UK basis support

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Q2 Jamie Stone Lib Dem Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question concerns the movement of cattle across borders and the need for a universal electronic tagging scheme.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Not addressed: Agreement on universal electronic tagging scheme

How: Re-Offering The Job

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Q3 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question follows up on co-operation across the UK and sustainability initiatives in the supply chain.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Providing an update on the scheme

How: False Barriers

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Q4 Jake Berry Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question addresses concerns about the use of mandatory rounds that can break both business farm tenancies and agricultural tenancies.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Department's response to the review

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Q5 Jeremy Wright Con Kenilworth and Southam
Education Mental Health
Context

The question focuses on mental health issues affecting young farmers in rural areas, inspired by the work of Andy and Lynda Eadon.

Question

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?

Answer from Mark Spencer

I pay tribute to my right hon. and learned Friend's constituents for their support of mental health charities, particularly in memory of Leonard.

Not addressed: Pressure on educational institutions for mental health awareness

How: Tribute To Constituents

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