Key Facts

• Clause 9 provides power to modify legislation governing the basic payment scheme.
• The government plans minor simplifications in 2020, including removing paperwork for young farmer schemes.
• Reductions to direct payments will start in 2021 with maximum reductions set for higher payment bands.
• The clause provides the Secretary of State with the power to make regulations to enable de-linked payments in England.
• De-linked payments will replace the basic payment scheme for all farmers in England once introduced.
• Alternative enforcement mechanisms will be introduced before direct payments are de-linked.
• Clause 13 outlines a seven-year agricultural transition period during which direct payments will be phased out.
• Amendment 74 would make receipt of lump sum de-linked payments conditional on transitioning to more sustainable farming practices or making land available for new entrants.
• The Government has proposed offering farmers the option of taking a one-off lump sum payment, subject to affordability considerations.
• De-linked payments will replace the basic payment scheme for all farmers in England.
• Clause 12 introduces de-linked payments during the agricultural transition period.
• Clause 13 provides regulations allowing farmers to opt for a one-off lump sum payment.
• Lump sums are intended to help older farmers retire and new entrants acquire land.
• Amendment 7 seeks to change 'five years' to 'year' in Clause 17.
• The original amendment was tabled by Fiona Bruce.
• Stakeholders and previous Bill Committee members warned about the lack of food security provisions.
• The UK produces only 61% of its own food today, down from 74% around 30 years ago.
• An adviser suggested that the UK should follow Singapore's example in agriculture, which is seen as concerning by the MP.
• There is cross-party support for amending the Agriculture Bill to produce annual reports on food security instead of every five years.
• Amendment 75 proposes adding consideration for global resource sustainability.
• Amendment 76 seeks to include reporting on food poverty and progress towards the UN SDG 2.
• Amendment 75 would help with specifying food security targets.
• The Environmental Audit Committee’s January 2019 report highlighted significant food insecurity in the UK.
• There are now more food banks than McDonald’s outlets in the UK.
• Amendment 75 relates to including indicators on global food security in the report.
• Amendment 76 focuses on reporting on household food insecurity as part of the UN sustainable development goals.
• The Government plans to use a range of statistics, from global UN data to UK national statistics for the report.
• Amendment 62 aims to give certainty about measuring household food insecurity.
• The first data on food insecurity will be available in 2021.
• The amendment would require yearly reports on food insecurity trends and actions to address it.
• Amendment 62 would enshrine household food insecurity measurement and reporting in law.
• The amendment expands the definition of food security to include access to affordable food.
• The Government's commitment does not ensure continuous future measurements or parliamentary scrutiny.
• Daniel Zeichner runs the all-party parliamentary group on data analytics.
• The House of Commons Library briefing suggests that data would normally be published in anonymised form.
• There is concern about tracing data back to individuals despite anonymity efforts.
• The clause aims to provide clarity on who might be required to provide information related to agriculture and food safety.
• A draft proposal must first be sent to all relevant parties before data requirements are imposed.
• Supply chain members have at least four weeks to notify the Secretary of State if they disagree with a data request.
• The clause allows for data collection from actors potentially far removed from the farm gate under certain circumstances.