Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

High-grade Agricultural Land

Thursday 19 December 2024 · 2 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

  • The government acknowledges increasing pressure on high-grade agricultural land due to urban sprawl and other factors.
  • The Minister stated the need for a proper structure to balance housing needs with food production, criticizing the current planning system.
  • The government intends to deliver a promised land use framework to address the issues raised.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Blake Stephenson Con Mid Bedfordshire
Housing Climate Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Climate change, nature loss, and urban sprawl pose significant risks to high-grade agricultural land in Mid Bedfordshire. The area has been farmed for generations.

Question

What assessment has the government made with Cabinet colleagues regarding the potential merits of safeguarding high-grade agricultural land? Climate change and flooding are pressing issues, as is the Government's family farm tax. Urban sprawl is a major threat to this critical land essential for food security and national freedom. Considering these threats, will the Minister guarantee protection of high-grade agricultural land?

Answer from Daniel Zeichner

The hon. Gentleman's points are acknowledged, and I refer to earlier comments that pressure on land is increasing. A proper structure is needed for housing and feeding people, yet the current planning system falls short. The previous Government promised a land use framework which we will deliver.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific guarantee of protecting high-grade agricultural land was not provided.

How: Referring To Earlier Comments, Promising To Deliver A Land Use Framework

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Blake Stephenson Con Mid Bedfordshire
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Environment
Context

Climate change, nature loss, and urban sprawl pose significant risks to high-grade agricultural land in Mid Bedfordshire. The area has been farmed for generations.

Question

High-grade agricultural land in Mid Bedfordshire has been farmed for generations, and it is critical for our food security and our freedom, but it is under extreme pressure. We have talked this morning about climate change and flooding, and also about the Government's family farm tax. What has not been mentioned so much is urban sprawl, which is a major threat to high-grade agricultural land. We live in an uncertain world and we need our country to feed itself. Considering the threat, will the Minister guarantee that high-grade agricultural land will be protected by this Government?

Answer from Daniel Zeichner

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his points and refer him to my earlier comments: we see more and more pressure, and there are so many things we need to do on our land to house and feed people, so it is important that we have a proper structure in place. It is widely acknowledged that the current planning system does not necessarily do that. The previous Government promised a land use framework; we will actually deliver it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific guarantee of protecting high-grade agricultural land was not provided.

How: Referring To Earlier Comments, Promising To Deliver A Land Use Framework

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email