Key Facts

• The amendments aim to ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny of environmental land management schemes proposed by the Government.
• Amendment 63 requires the Secretary of State to make regulations for establishing financial assistance schemes and setting out how they will be designed and operated.
• Amendment 64 ensures that these regulations are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.
• The document praises current agricultural practices but mentions unintended water pollution costs.
• There is no strategic aim for food production in the outlined goals.
• Page 7 includes a claim that environmental schemes will help maintain food security despite tension with environmental goods.
• Lessons learned from previous schemes include high uptake and access to effective advisory services.
• Amendment 63 relates primarily to establishing any financial assistance scheme.
• The Committee is dealing with procedural challenges and lack of proper scrutiny.
• The CAP reform aimed at reducing administrative burden.
• DEFRA initially wanted 5,000 farmers signed up by the end of 2022 but only 1,250 were actually signed up.
• Tier 3 looks similar to pillar two LEADER schemes and involves local communities in scheme design.
• The national pilot of the ELM scheme will start at the end of next year and conclude in 2024.
• New duties include multi-annual financial assistance plans and annual reports setting out financial assistance given under clause 1.
• Tier 2 of ELMS could initially be based on actions, potentially offering top-up payments for results delivered.
• New clause 9 proposes setting baseline regulatory standards governing agricultural and horticultural activity.
• New clause 22 requires consultation on enforcement bodies within one month of the Act's Royal Assent.
• The proposed regulations cover environmental protection, public access, cultural heritage, climate change mitigation, health improvement, conservation, and soil quality.
• The discussion involves Amendment 36 and New clause 9.
• New clause 9 outlines duties for the Secretary of State regarding environmental standards in agriculture and horticulture.
• The government's programme has left a gap in protecting the countryside post-Brexit.
• There is concern about unintended consequences leading to less protected land due to lack of farmer participation.
• George Monbiot’s evidence raised questions about paying farmers to comply with environmental rules.
• A report by the Committee on Climate Change suggests the need for a new regulatory baseline reflecting 'polluter pays' principle.
• The Institute for European Environmental Policy warns of gaps in legislation affecting wildlife protections, such as hedgehog populations which have declined by 97% since the 1950s.
• Amendments would enshrine legal duties in the Bill.
• Current system is fragmented and complicated.
• New clause lists purposes already contained in domestic legislation.
• Regulatory framework review ongoing with farmer involvement.
• Consultation on future regulatory vision by end of year.
• Dame Glenys Stacey's consultation and review inform new strategy.
• Current enforcement is not effective; only 40 out of 10,600 Environment Agency staff conduct farm inspections.
• DEFRA-related bodies like Natural England and the Forestry Commission deliver compliance with farm regulations.
• The amendment would enable Ministers to carry over unspent financial assistance from one year to another.
• No money is allocated nationally; it is a political promise not in legislation.
• The Government has pledged to guarantee an annual budget of £3 billion for agriculture during every year of this Parliament.
• Clause 4 requires the preparation of a multi-annual financial assistance plan covering the seven-year transition period.