I am grateful to my constituents who have taken the time
to contact me about my support for the Government’s Agriculture Bill.
In September the Government introduced the Agriculture
Bill, which has had its Second Reading on 10 October and is currently under
scrutiny by MPs in the bill committee.
Food and farming is a bedrock of our economy and
environment, generating £112 billion a year and helping shape some of our
finest habitats and landscapes. Cornwall in particular is an agri-food
powerhouse, with 30% of those of working age employed in agri-food and food
retail, compared to the UK average of 15%. The Government will continue to
commit the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of this
Parliament in 2022. Once we have the freedom to move away from the Common
Agricultural Policy as a result of our leaving of the European Union, the
proposal is for an 'agricultural transition' period in England, allowing
farmers to prepare for a new system.
Brexit creates a once in a generation opportunity to
design a domestic agricultural policy that will stand the test of time.
Starting from first principles we can bring in innovative new ideas to support
investment in healthy, sustainable British food production and do much better
for farming, the environment and animal welfare. The Government proposes to
move to a system of paying farmers public money for public goods: principally
environmental enhancement.
Ministers have consulted widely with farmers and others,
and have published the Agriculture Bill alongside their response; it focuses
mostly on England because they recognise that devolution provides each
administration with the powers to decide its own priorities. They are keenly
aware of the importance of seasonal labour, so will work with the industry to
ensure it has the right people with the right skills.
We must take this opportunity to use public money to
reward environmentally-responsible land use, as well as maintaining and
enhancing high standards of animal welfare. We will harness this opportunity
and ensure that our best days as a food and farming nation lie ahead of us.
