Campaign reply - The Future of Farming

Thank you for contacting me about the Government’s commitments to farming and nature.

I would like to assure you that the Government is not rowing back on commitments to our farming reforms or nature. In January 2022, the Government announced plans to bring forward a Bill to create a more innovative regulatory regime that would not have been possible were the UK still a member of the European Union. The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill will benefit people and businesses across the UK. While I appreciate your strength of feeling about this issue, I am assured that the Bill will not weaken environmental protections.

The Environment Act 2021 includes a commitment to halt the decline of nature by 2030. This Government will not undermine its commitments to the environment. Internationally, the UK has committed to protect 30 per cent of its land and ocean by 2030, through the Leaders Pledge for Nature, which committed to putting nature and biodiversity globally on a road to recovery by 2030.

The Government was elected on a manifesto which pledged to maintain the budget for farming but spend it in a way that does better for farming and nature. My ministerial colleagues and I want to support the choices that individual farmers make for their farms, boost food production and agricultural productivity. This will bolster the rural economy and support communities across the country.

Ministers are rolling out new schemes which will support farmers to both produce high-quality food and enhance the natural environment. Ministers have been looking at how best to deliver the Environmental Land Management schemes to see where and how improvements can be made. I look forward to reading more about the schemes later this year.

Regarding investment zones, the Government has announced that it will refocus the Investment Zones programme to centre on universities in left-behind areas. This will leverage local research strengths and build clusters for new growth industries. Clusters will drive growth while maintaining high environmental standards. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will work closely with mayors, devolved administrations, local authorities, businesses and other local partners to consider how best to identify and support these clusters. The Chancellor has said that the first decisions are expected ahead of the spring Budget.

Again, thank you for taking the time to write. If you require any further assistance, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.