Found: properties tend to be let out on a much wider variety of tenure types including Rent Act 1977, Rent (Agriculture) Act

Found: the UK’s Food Standard Agencies, the Government will lay its own report under section 42 of the Agriculture Act

Found: In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report

Found: I remember sitting in some Committee room discussing the Agriculture Act four or five years ago—it

Found: I know we have the Agriculture Act in the UK and the Agriculture (Wales) Act, but in theory there is

Found: I know we have the Agriculture Act in the UK and the Agriculture (Wales) Act, but in theory there is

Found: first round of Landscape Recovery projects and Recommendation 4 Under Section 19 of the Agriculture Act

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of her Department's agricultural budget for the 2026-27 financial year will be spent on existing multi-year agri-environment agreements.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We are investing £2.7 billion a year into sustainable food production and nature's recovery. Overall, farmers and land managers will benefit from an average of £2.3 billion a year through the Farming and Countryside Programme. And up to £400 million from additional nature schemes, including those for tree planting and peatland restorations. Funding for the Environmental Land Management schemes paid to farmers, which includes multi-annual agri-environment agreements, will increase by 150% from £800 billion in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29.

Defra manages the farming budget flexibly. To respond to demand and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare.

In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year, including FCP spend broken down by each scheme.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) farmers and (b) exporters are protected from unfair supermarket practices not covered by the (i) Groceries Code Adjudicator and (ii) Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) is responsible for enforcing regulations developed under the Agriculture Act 2020 'Fair Dealing' powers (section 29). Regulations introduced using these powers promote fair contractual dealing and contribute to a more equitable relationship between producers and purchasers. To date, the powers have been used to create the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 and the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025.

The ASCA can investigate relevant complaints around compliance with these regulations. This is distinct from the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), which regulates the relationship between large retailers and their direct suppliers.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to regulating the supply chain and providing opportunities to assess the effectiveness of the approach.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator for supporting producers with (a) non-compliant and (b) missing written milk purchase contracts under the regulations.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) is responsible for enforcing regulations developed under the Agriculture Act 2020 'Fair Dealing' powers (section 29). Regulations introduced using these powers promote fair contractual dealing and contribute to a more equitable relationship between producers and purchasers. To date, the powers have been used to create the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 (FDOM24) and the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025 (FDOP25).

The ASCA can investigate relevant complaints around compliance with these regulations, including ensuring parties agree a written contract as mandated by the FDOMM24. The ASCA also aims to be a convener across supply chains, working with producers and purchasers to improve business relationships and behaviours around contracts.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how long the scrutiny period for documents laid before Parliament for the UK-India trade deal will be.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland

The Secretary of State commissioned the Chair of Trade and Agriculture Commission upon signature of the India FTA and has given the Chair until 24 October to provide advice which will be laid before Parliament shortly thereafter. The Government will then produce a Section 42 Report, under its obligations in the Agriculture Act 2020, in collaboration with the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland, which will be laid in Parliament once we have considered the Commission's advice. Per the Government’s Trade Strategy, there will be at least 20 sitting days between the publication of the Section 42 Report and any triggering of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act process.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he will lay before Parliament the (a) section 42 Agriculture Act 2020 report and (b) Trade and Agriculture Commission’s advice for the UK–India trade deal.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Secretary of State for Scotland

The Secretary of State commissioned the Chair of Trade and Agriculture Commission upon signature of the India FTA and has given the Chair until 24 October to provide advice which will be laid before Parliament shortly thereafter. The Government will then produce a Section 42 Report, under its obligations in the Agriculture Act 2020, in collaboration with the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland, which will be laid in Parliament once we have considered the Commission's advice. Per the Government’s Trade Strategy, there will be at least 20 sitting days between the publication of the Section 42 Report and any triggering of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act process.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with supermarkets on (a) the adequacy of the prices they pay to producers and (b) the potential merits of buying more produce from vertical farms.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists. Using the 'Fair Dealings' powers in the Agriculture Act 2020, we can introduce regulations to increase transparency and protect growers, across the range of horticultural production systems, from unfair commercial practices.

We are currently developing ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations for the fresh produce sector, which will cover growers that sell directly to retail. These regulations are designed to strengthen supply chain fairness and ensure all horticulture producers have clear and balanced contracts, which may include prohibiting practices such as cancelling orders at short notice.

As part of this work, we are engaging with retailers, producers, experts and other representatives of the horticulture sector to ensure the regulations are workable and effective.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to prevent supermarkets from cancelling orders from vertical farms at short notice.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists. Using the 'Fair Dealings' powers in the Agriculture Act 2020, we can introduce regulations to increase transparency and protect growers, across the range of horticultural production systems, from unfair commercial practices.

We are currently developing ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations for the fresh produce sector, which will cover growers that sell directly to retail. These regulations are designed to strengthen supply chain fairness and ensure all horticulture producers have clear and balanced contracts, which may include prohibiting practices such as cancelling orders at short notice.

As part of this work, we are engaging with retailers, producers, experts and other representatives of the horticulture sector to ensure the regulations are workable and effective.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with (a) experts and (b) representatives of (i) traditional and (ii) vertical farming sectors on improving the (A) fairness and (B) reliability of supermarket supply contracts.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists. Using the 'Fair Dealings' powers in the Agriculture Act 2020, we can introduce regulations to increase transparency and protect growers, across the range of horticultural production systems, from unfair commercial practices.

We are currently developing ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations for the fresh produce sector, which will cover growers that sell directly to retail. These regulations are designed to strengthen supply chain fairness and ensure all horticulture producers have clear and balanced contracts, which may include prohibiting practices such as cancelling orders at short notice.

As part of this work, we are engaging with retailers, producers, experts and other representatives of the horticulture sector to ensure the regulations are workable and effective.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to prevent supermarkets from cancelling orders from vertical farms at short notice.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists, which includes practices such as cancelling orders at short notice. Using the 'Fair Dealings' powers in the Agriculture Act 2020 we can introduce regulations to increase transparency and protect growers, including those with vertical horticulture systems, from unfair commercial practices.

We are already making progress on developing ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations for the fresh produce sector, which will cover growers that sell directly to retail. These regulations could require that contracts include clear rules on notice periods, fair termination clauses and processes for changing agreed terms.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to prevent supermarkets from being able to cancel orders from vertical farms at short notice.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists, which includes practices such as cancelling orders at short notice. Using the 'Fair Dealings' powers in the Agriculture Act 2020 we can introduce regulations to increase transparency and protect growers, including those with vertical horticulture systems, from unfair commercial practices.

We are already making progress on developing ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations for the fresh produce sector, which will cover growers that sell directly to retail. These regulations could require that contracts include clear rules on notice periods, fair termination clauses and processes for changing agreed terms.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to mandate the update the UK Food Security Report annually.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The UK Food Security Report is published once every three years, fulfilling the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020. The next one will be published in 2027.

On 15 July 2025 the Government announced that it is committing to a new annual food security statistics publication to be published in the years between the triennial UK Food Security Report, starting this year. It will be a more frequent and focused publication, designed to ensure that key UK food security analysis is made public in order to capture emerging trends, and to support both policymakers and the public.

This new annual publication is a separate product to the UK Food Security Report and is not fulfilling the legislative duty.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much financial assistance DEFRA provided in total to support the agriculture sector in the past financial year.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report setting out commitments in the previous financial year. Defra intends to publish the annual report for the financial year 2024/25 later this year, which will set out how money was spent in that financial year.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of food security.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The second United Kingdom Food Security Report (UKFSR) was published in December 2024. The UKFSR sets out an analysis of statistical data relating to food security in the UK, fulfilling the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to present a report on food security to Parliament at least once every three years.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that fair dealing improvements under Grocery Supply Code of Practice are extended to upstream suppliers who are not covered by the Code.

Answered by Justin Madders

The Groceries Code is a competition measure owned by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA can only change the Code in ways which address the specific effects on competition found during its original market investigation, and not to address new issues or sectors.

The government has introduced Fair Dealing Regulations under the Agriculture Act 2020 to deal with the production end of the supply chain in specific sectors. These are enforced by the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA).

The government is currently undertaking the fourth statutory review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The review additionally asks if there are unfair contractual practices in parts of the supply chain not covered by the GCA or ASCA.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the functions of the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator will be extended to align with those of the Grocery Code Adjudicator.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) is responsible for enforcing regulations developed under the Agriculture Act 2020 'Fair Dealing' powers (section 29). Regulations introduced using these powers promote fair contractual dealing and contribute to a more equitable relationship between producers and purchasers. To date, the powers have been used to create the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 and the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025.

The ASCA can investigate relevant complaints and has significant powers to impose fines and/or order compensation to be paid by those found to be in breach. The ASCA also aims to be a convener across supply chains, working with both producers and purchasers to improve business relationships and behaviours around contracts.

The remit of ASCA deals with those who farmers supply directly, which in most cases is not supermarkets. The ASCA therefore has a distinct role and way of working to the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), which instead regulates the relationship between large retailers and their direct suppliers. The ASCA and the GCA are also in regular contact as they fulfil their respective remits, ensuring co-ordination without duplication.

The Government are committed to an evidence-based approach to regulating the supply chain. The fourth statutory review of the GCA’s effectiveness was recently launched, with a public consultation open which closes on 5 August. We encourage anyone interested to respond to the review’s consultation and will carefully consider the views received. We will also conduct a statutory review into the effectiveness of the ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework in ensuring fair treatment of (a) farmers and (b) small food producers by large retailers.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

Farmers should always receive a fair price for their products, and the Government is committed to tackling unfairness in the supply chain wherever it exists. Central to this is our work to improve contractual practices in agriculture, where we are introducing ‘Fair Dealings’ regulations using powers in the Agriculture Act 2020.

Fair Dealings regulations have already been introduced for the UK dairy and pig sectors, and further regulations are in development for the egg and fresh produce sectors too. The Government also recently announced the launch of a new review into issues facing the combinable crops sector. We will conduct a statutory review into the effectiveness of these regulations in due course.

In terms of those who supply large retailers, the Government also supports the work of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), which enforces the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) and regulates the relationship between the largest grocery retailers and their direct suppliers.

Evidence from previous statutory reviews of the GCA and from annual supplier surveys suggest that the adjudicator has been highly effective in enforcing GSCOP. The Government recently launched the fourth statutory review of the GCA’s effectiveness and has an ongoing public consultation open which closes on 5 August. We encourage anyone interested to respond to the review’s consultation and will carefully consider the views received.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have considered legislative changes to allow newly formed or reorganised local authorities, including unitary and combined authorities, to be designated as smallholding authorities in order to maintain the protections provided under sections 38 and 39 of the Agriculture Act 1970.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

On 5 February the government formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area.

During the local government reorganisation process, it is expected that assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils. There is a suite of general continuity regulations for local government reorganisation made under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 which ensure smooth transfer to new unitary councils. These general regulations provide transitional and supplementary arrangements, so that the councils can undertake specific functions to enable a successful move to the single tier of local government. These provisions relate to continuity of services and functions, staffing, local authority plans and schemes, transfer of assets, property and reserves, and can include farm estates. We will review and if necessary update relevant legislation to ensure that powers currently designated to county councils are provided to new unitary councils.

The Government has not made an assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on council farms. Although local government reorganisation may impact who administers farming tenancies, it will not alter council farm tenants' succession rights.

We are committed to working with colleagues across Government, and with the LGA and its sector support group to ensure councils have the information, tools and expertise to develop the solutions that are right for their area, so new authorities are set up for success. I am happy to meet Noble Lords at any point to discuss local government reorganisation, and Baroness Hayman and I stand ready to meet Baroness Rock to discuss the issues she has raised.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of local government reorganisation and the English Devolution White Paper on the future of county council-owned council farms, particularly with regard to their statutory role as smallholding authorities under the Agriculture Act 1970.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

On 5 February the government formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area.

During the local government reorganisation process, it is expected that assets and liabilities remain locally managed by councils. There is a suite of general continuity regulations for local government reorganisation made under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 which ensure smooth transfer to new unitary councils. These general regulations provide transitional and supplementary arrangements, so that the councils can undertake specific functions to enable a successful move to the single tier of local government. These provisions relate to continuity of services and functions, staffing, local authority plans and schemes, transfer of assets, property and reserves, and can include farm estates. We will review and if necessary update relevant legislation to ensure that powers currently designated to county councils are provided to new unitary councils.

The Government has not made an assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on council farms. Although local government reorganisation may impact who administers farming tenancies, it will not alter council farm tenants' succession rights.

We are committed to working with colleagues across Government, and with the LGA and its sector support group to ensure councils have the information, tools and expertise to develop the solutions that are right for their area, so new authorities are set up for success. I am happy to meet Noble Lords at any point to discuss local government reorganisation, and Baroness Hayman and I stand ready to meet Baroness Rock to discuss the issues she has raised.

Found: Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under sections 37(6) and 50(6)(a) of the Agriculture Act 2020

Found: Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under sections 23(8), 28(6), 40(4) and 50(6)(a) of the Agriculture Act

Found: Committee, Twelfth Report of Session 2022–23, Scrutiny of free trade agreements, 13 July 2023. 17 Agriculture Act

Found: Agricultural Transition Plan set out the period for replacing area-based subsidies, established by the Agriculture Act

Found: In this ground— “agriculture” has the same meaning as in the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 (see section

Found: In this ground— “agriculture” has the same meaning as in the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 (see section

Found: In this ground— “agriculture” has the same meaning as in the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 (see section

Found: In this ground— “agriculture” has the same meaning as in the Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 (see section

Found: within the meaning of section 1 of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 or section 109(3) of the Agriculture Act

Found: being by virtue of any provision of Schedule 1 to the Rent Act 1977 or section 4 of the Rent (Agriculture) Act

Found: within the meaning of section 1 of the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 or section 109(3) of the Agriculture Act

Found: 12 (meetings and proceedings of local authorities). 43 20 Section 5(3)(baa) of the Rent (Agriculture) Act

Found: proceedings of local authorities). p226 226:5 226:10 226:1543 Section 5(3)(baa) of the Rent (Agriculture) Act

Found: ● Rent (Agriculture) Act 1976 ● Representation of the People Act 1983 ● Road Traffic Act 1988

Found: ● Railways Act 1993 ● Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 ● Rent Act 1977 ● Rent (Agriculture) Act

Found: 15 appointed by the Secretary of State to enforce regulations made under section 29 of the Agriculture Act

Science and Technology in Agriculture APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: first leading calls for regulatory reform on gene editing in 2020, during the passage of the Agriculture Act

Science and Technology in Agriculture APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Neither the Agriculture Act 202010 nor the Environment Act 202111 addressed food.

Science and Technology in Agriculture APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: UK Food Security Report 2024 Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 19 of the Agriculture Act 2020

Science and Technology in Agriculture APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: first led calls for post-Brexit regulatory divergence on gene editing during the passage of the Agriculture Act

Science and Technology in Agriculture APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: initially called for by members of this All-Party Group through a proposed amendment to the Agriculture Act

Science and Technology in Agriculture APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: led calls for regulatory divergence from EU rules on gene editing during the passage of the Agriculture Act

Net Zero APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: The new Agriculture Act provides an opportunity for real and immediate gains through subsidy reform

Found: The Agriculture Act (2020) places a duty on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: April 2024 to 31 March 2025 Presented to Parliament pursuant to Chapter 1, Section 5 of the Agriculture Act

Found: the UK -India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), in line with the provisions of section 42 (4) of the Agriculture Act

Found: procedure under Part 2 of the CRaG will not be commenced until the obligations set out in the Agriculture Act

Found: agricultural waste” means waste from premises used for agriculture within the meaning of the Agriculture Act

Found: the UK -India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), in line with the provisions of section 42 (4) of the Agriculture Act

Found: the GCA Governance Board • Given the introduction of regulations under powers taken in the Agriculture Act

Found: the GCA Governance Board • Given the introduction of regulations under powers taken in the Agriculture Act

Found: Section 35 of the Agriculture Act 2020 (c.21) contains provisions that permit the redistribution of levies

Found: Section 35 of the Agriculture Act 2020 (c.21) contains provisions that permit the redistribution of levies

Found: Those agreements reflect the Secretary of State's wider scheme rules in accordance with the Agriculture Act

Found: earlier in the 25-year Environment Plan, with new powers and duties from the Environment Act, Agriculture Act

Found: The UK Agriculture Act (2020) [88] contains provisions regarding the improvement of soil quality.

Found: Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under sections 37(6) and 50(6)(a) of the Agriculture Act 2020

Found: Draft Regulations laid before Parliament under sections 23(8), 28(6), 40(4) and 50(6)(a) of the Agriculture Act

Found: prevent misuse of data while promoting wider adoption of IPM practices.Proposed changes in the Agriculture Act

Found: they have had any feedback from farmers regarding the gradual changes being brought in via the Agriculture Act

Found: 3 Glossary of Acronyms and Abbreviations 2016 Act Environment (Wales) Act 2016 Agriculture Act

Found: With new powers granted under the UK Agriculture Act 2020, Wales has been given the ability to amend

Found: notice was served, was agricultural land within the meaning given by section 109(1) of the Agriculture Act