Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Environmental Land Management Schemes

Thursday 1 February 2024 · 4 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

  • Minister is increasing payment rates under ELMs by an average of 10% this year, adding about 50 new actions.
  • Collaboration with stakeholders includes Department farming blog, trade shows, ministerial visits, and free business support through the future farming resilience fund.
  • Sustainable Farming Incentive is designed to encourage environmental improvement, resulting in thousands of kilometres of hedgerow planted and areas dedicated to biodiversity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Trudy Harrison Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP is concerned about the clarity and accessibility of environmental land management (ELM) schemes for local farmers.

Question

What steps he is taking to support farmers through the environmental land management schemes. I am concerned that while there is a keen desire among farmers to take advantage of ELMs, they are asking for more clarity about what to go for and when to achieve the most successful, sustainable and profitable farm business.

Answer from Mark Spencer

We are increasing payment rates under ELMs through a 10% average uplift this year, adding about 50 new actions. The sustainable farming incentive and countryside stewardship mid-tier application process will be streamlined to make it easier for schemes to fit into farm businesses.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked specifically about clarity in guidance for farmers, but the Minister focused on improving payment rates and adding new actions without directly addressing the need for clearer guidance.

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Q2 Trudy Harrison Con
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP continues to advocate for better clarity on environmental land management (ELM) schemes and their impact on local farmers.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend the Farming Minister for meeting my farmers in Wasdale last year. I have continued that conversation, and there is a keen desire among farmers to take advantage of ELMs; they overwhelmingly ask for clarity about what to go for and when to achieve success.

Answer from Mark Spencer

We are collaborating with stakeholders through the Department's farming blog, trade shows, ministerial visits, stakeholder organisations like NFU and CLA, and we provide free business support through the future farming resilience fund. Grants and schemes for farmers are published on our single funding page.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for clarity in guidance specifically regarding ELMs, but the Minister discussed broader communication efforts without addressing the need for clearer guidelines on environmental land management.

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Q3 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

The Office for Environmental Protection reported the Government was largely off track with only four of 40 targets met. The MP wants to know how much environmental improvement has been achieved so far.

Question

With just four out of forty targets being achieved, can the Minister tell us how much environmental improvement farmers have delivered through ELMs so far?

Answer from Mark Spencer

Two months into a 25-year plan is too soon to judge. We are making huge strides with stakeholders and farmers, who have created an environment over generations. The sustainable farming incentive (SFI) is designed to encourage more environmental improvement.

Not addressed: The MP asked for specific details on the environmental improvements achieved through ELMs, but the Minister did not provide any concrete figures or assessments of impact.

How: Two Months Into A 25-Year Plan Is Too Soon To Judge

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Q4 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Environment
Context

The MP questions the effectiveness of public spending on environmental land management schemes and requests a clear assessment of their impact.

Question

With large amounts of public money being spent, can the Minister tell us what we are getting for that money in terms of environmental improvement or degradation?

Answer from Mark Spencer

We see thousands of kilometres of hedgerow planted, areas dedicated to biodiversity, and food creation for wild bird populations. The SFI is delivering these improvements.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked specifically about assessing environmental improvement or degradation, but the Minister's response was vague without clear measurement indicators.

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