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Agriculture: Government Support
29 April 2026
Lead MP
Richard Foord
Honiton and Sidmouth
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Angela Eagle
Tags
NHSTaxationBusiness & TradeAgriculture & Rural AffairsMental Health
Word Count: 4444
Other Contributors: 8
At a Glance
Richard Foord raised concerns about agriculture: government support in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Adam Dance
Lib Dem
Yeovil
Urges the Government to address rural crime and equi [4D [K equipment theft, which costs farmers significant sums of money. On support, will the Minister look into what she and [3D [K and colleagues can do to give support and confidence to farmers so that the [3D [K they can support passionate young people with special educational needs and [3D [K and disabilities, like Jack, into farming?
Caroline Voaden
Lib Dem
South Devon
Concerned about delays in the Sustainable Farming In [2D [K Incentive programme and lack of clarity on future funding for various envir [5D [K environmental schemes, urging for greater transparency and improved efficie [7D [K efficiency in payments. I just wanted to make a brief intervention on the is [2D [K issue of entry into farming. Devon county council has several farms and it [K is very keen to use them as a way to get young people into farming, especia [7D [K especially those who do not have a family farm of their own.
Danny Chambers
Lib Dem
Winchester
Raises concerns over lengthy planning processes impa [4D [K impacting farmers' business decisions, noting a wait time of more than 18 m [1D [K months for new slurry lagoon or barn repurposing applications.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Calls for an increased, ringfenced, multi-annual far [3D [K farm support budget that is fully inflation-proof to help farmers meet worl [4D [K world-leading animal welfare standards.
Peter Prinsley
Lab
Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket
Expresses concern over the mental health of farmers, [8D [K farmers, noting one suicide per week among UK farmers, urging for greater s [1D [K support for their well-being.
Sarah Gibson
Lib Dem
Chippenham
Farmers in Chippenham are disappointed with Governme [8D [K Government support, citing an underspend of millions and statistics showing [7D [K showing between 17% to 29% of farming families not turning a profit. On the subject of getting young people into farming, [8D [K farming, my local agricultural college tells me that when it tries to send [K students to help on farms, the farmers find it extremely difficult to find [K a use for them because getting a licence to drive high-level agricultural e [1D [K equipment is so expensive.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Highlights that 4,000 farmers in England who farm on [2D [K on common land are unable to get funding due to the Rural Payments Agency s [1D [K software issues, suggesting a change in approach is needed. I want to press the Minister on the common land issu [4D [K issue. She will be aware that the transition has made it very difficult for [3D [K for commoners to bid for funds, so I understand the problem.
Wendy Chamberlain
Lib Dem
North East Fife
Highlights the need for the Government to respond mo [2D [K more quickly on issues such as fertiliser costs due to the cost of producin [8D [K producing food crisis and the overall cost of living crisis. The Minister talks about profitability, but there is [2D [K is no doubt that the Government's failed family farm tax has had a huge imp [3D [K impact. She also talks about building resilience for the future with scheme [6D [K schemes, but does she accept that we need next generation schemes to attrac [6D [K attract young people into the industry?
Government Response
Angela Eagle
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, [K Mr Turner, for what I think is the first time in Westminster Hall. I congra [6D [K congratulate the hon. Member for Honiton and Sidmouth on securing this deba [4D [K debate. We know that farming matters to every constituency because it suppo [5D [K supports rural jobs and communities while producing food and underpinning n [1D [K national resilience.
I recognise the pressures many farm businesses face [4D [K face due to rising input costs, especially fertiliser which has seen a 40% [K increase in prices for some products. DEFRA is monitoring this impact on su [2D [K supply chains and engaging with stakeholders like the National Farmers' Uni [3D [K Union. We have asked the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to [K publish price data weekly, providing more timely information.
Over 500 f [1D [K farms are using our new nutrient management planning tool, enabling them to [2D [K to reduce their reliance on artificial fertilisers. The Government is also [K consulting on modernising fertiliser product regulations for better future [K supply options and resilience.
The SFI needs improvement for upland area [4D [K areas; we are working with Hilary Cottam to find a community-based method o [1D [K of support. We will keep looking into making changes to higher level scheme [6D [K schemes to assist upland farmers and commoners.
Red diesel continues to [K benefit from an 80% discount, saving farmers nearly £300 million annually. [K A 5p fuel duty cut is in place until September.
We have allocated a reco [4D [K record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this P [1D [K Parliament, with overall support averaging £2.3 billion per year through th [2D [K the farming and countryside programme.
The Government are improving how [K support is delivered by increasing investment in environmental land managem [7D [K management schemes towards £2 billion by 028-29. We are also modernising ca [2D [K capital grants, which will be open for application from July with £225 mill [4D [K million available, up from last year's allocation. Farming grants worth £12 [3D [K £120 million are available to boost productivity innovation.
The Batters [7D [K Batters review has been taken forward with the formation of a Farming and F [1D [K Food Partnership Board that decided horticulture would be the first sector [K for a growth plan. We will continue developing our farming road map, settin [6D [K setting out how farming in England will evolve up to 2050 in response to ch [2D [K changing markets, technologies, and environmental pressures.
The Governm [7D [K Government take mental health support for farmers seriously by tripling pre [3D [K previous funding to £1.5 million over three years.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.