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Land Use Change: Food Security
18 November 2025
Lead MP
Wendy Morton
Aldridge-Brownhills
Con
Responding Minister
Dame Angela Eagle
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Word Count: 13620
Other Contributors: 15
At a Glance
Wendy Morton raised concerns about land use change: food security in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The debate calls on the Government to reconsider its land use policies that favour green belt development for housing, which undermines domestic food production. It also urges a reevaluation of inheritance tax changes that could force family farms into speculative housing sites.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The debate highlights the significant decline in domestic food production, with the UK producing roughly 60% of its food by calories compared to 78% in the 1980s. The capacity for food self-sufficiency is further strained by rising input costs and global instability leading to a 36% increase in food prices between January 2021 and April 2025, over three times more than the previous decade's rate.
Bradley Thomas
Con
Bromsgrove
Asked about the fairness of increased housing targets for rural areas compared to urban areas like Birmingham, highlighting a significant disparity.
Chris Hinchliff
Lab
North East Hertfordshire
There are fair questions to answer about the effectiveness of planning policies that protect our best farmland. In the 12 years from 1980, more than 14,000 hectares of prime agricultural land were lost to development.
Angela Eagle
Lab
Garston
Discussed the government's food strategy and its focus on sustainable production, fair prices for producers, resilience to climate change, and environmental land management schemes. Mentioned the £7 billion farming budget. Stated that the report on land use will be published this year and assured that solar farms would not take up more than 0.4% of English land by 2035.
Daniel Zeichner
Lab
Cambridge
Asks why the previous Government did not bring forward a land use framework despite announcing it three years ago.
Roz Savage
LD
South Cotswolds
Britain's land use faces competing demands such as housing, renewable energy projects, biodiversity conservation, and food production. The UK imports about 40% of its food, and departmental silos hinder a holistic approach to land use. A multi-functional land use framework is needed.
West Dorset
The MP highlights the financial struggles faced by farmers, noting that 30% of British farms made no profit last year. He warns against carving up assets to pay bills under new inheritance tax rules.
Chichester
The MP underscores the challenges faced by farmers in maintaining their land due to being asset-rich and cash-poor, often needing to rent additional farmland to balance books. Raises concerns about the ending of the fruit and veg scheme in December without a replacement, impacting soft fruit farmers. Also discusses the importance of understanding soil microbiome for ensuring food health. Supports Tim Farron's points and provides an example of a farm in her constituency that was left without any support after the closure of the SFI scheme, highlighting the unacceptable situation for farmers.
John Milne
LD
Horsham
Argues that there is not enough push for local authorities to promote brownfield sites over greenfield ones as required by the law. Supports the need for a coherent national land use strategy that carries weight in planning applications to prevent over-development in rural areas, highlighting the issue of grid connections driving solar farm development.
Josh Newbury
Lab
Cannock Chase
Calls for prioritising agricultural land primarily for food production while supporting productivity improvements and innovation. Highlights the importance of safeguarding domestic food production to bolster national resilience against geopolitical instability.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
The MP highlights cash flow challenges facing farmers due to reduced sustainable farming incentive payments, capital grant stops, end of fruit and vegetable scheme, increased employer national insurance, and other taxes such as the fertiliser tax. He also raises concerns about the impact of the family farm tax on every farming business. The position on family farm tax is clear: 100% relief on APR and business property relief needs to remain. The Labour Government's policy is disastrous. Asked about the publication of Baroness Batters' profitability review before the Budget next week.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
British farmers are the backbone of our food system, but many face increasing demands on their land. DEFRA’s land use framework consultation stated that 14% of England’s agricultural land could be reduced or totally lost to food production by 2050. The Liberal Democrats propose financially supporting sustainable farming methods and urge for proper funding of the farming budget with an additional £1 billion a year.
Terry Jermy
Lab
South West Norfolk
Emphasises the challenges in his constituency related to solar panel development, particularly on high-quality farmland. He argues for a coherent national strategy that prioritizes both energy security and food security without compromising either.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Highlights the importance of UK food security and criticises the Government's agricultural policy for disincentivising food production. Raises concerns about sudden scheme closures, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which leaves farmers unable to plan or access funding.
Tom Gordon
LD
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Asks if prime agricultural land should be used for solar farms rather than rooftops of distribution warehouses and other alternatives first.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
The Chancellor has made several speculative announcements and U-turns in the last 16 months, and there is an opportunity for change if desired. Asked about the connection between food security and British farmers, expressing interest in ensuring that food produced by British farmers is available.
Government Response
Dame Angela Eagle
The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs
Government Response
Food security is a critical part of national security. The Government approaches this issue through F4, which includes the National Farmers’ Union, the Food and Drink Federation, the British Retail Consortium, and UKHospitality. Robust analysis and transparency are key, with annual food security digest reports and a triennial UK food security report.
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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.