Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Land Use Framework for England and Wales and the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, particularly the use of agricultural land for renewable energy, on tenant farmers.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Whilst the impact of the Land Use Framework and Clean Power 2030 Action Plan on tenant farmers has not been directly assessed, this Government is committed to ensuring tenant farmers are included and treated fairly in land use decisions including the use of agricultural land for renewable energy.
The Land Use Framework provides data and principles to help safeguard our best agricultural land, and commits to giving tenant farmers a greater role in land use decision making through reforming the Farm Tenancy Forum, supporting farmers to stay on their land and improving access to business opportunities.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that the overnight visitor levy will have on (1) families on fixed incomes taking holidays in England, and (2) small business in the hospitality sector.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The impacts of the overnight visitor levy will be determined by local decisions. It will be for Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to introduce a levy, subject to local consultation on specific proposals. We expect local leaders to engage constructively with businesses and communities, and to publish an assessment of the impact of their proposals.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to reform agricultural tenancy agreements.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A review of agricultural tenancy legislation which provides the framework for agricultural tenancy agreements will be delivered by the Law Commission as part of their fourteenth law reform programme. The Government will consider and respond to outcome of the Law Commission review and recommendations as part of any plans to reform agricultural tenancy agreements in future. In the meantime, Defra is working with the Farm Tenancy Forum to ensure a thriving and collaborative farm tenancy sector.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many small reservoirs have been built on farmland in the last year.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The number of small reservoirs built on farmland in the last year is not collected centrally. Many small reservoirs are not subject to regulation and there is no requirement for farmers to report on these.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the working party on farm tenancy agreements last met.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Farm Tenancy Forum most recently met on 18 June 2026 as part of its regular quarterly meeting schedule.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent the differential in farm payments between farmers in England and those in Scotland is affecting the competitive position of the former.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Agriculture is devolved. Defra administers farming policy in England, while the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive determine their own agricultural policies and support schemes. As part of this arrangement, funding for agriculture and fisheries was baselined and un-ringfenced in each devolved governments block grant from 2024-25. It is for devolved governments to allocate funding as they see fit and they are accountable to their devolved legislatures for those decisions. The devolved governments’ settlements for 2025-26 are the largest in real terms of any settlements since devolution.
The UK government is acting in England to support farmers and give them clarity to plan and invest. The recently published Farming Roadmap and Farming Profitability Review response set out a range of short-term and long-term actions. These include investment in ELM funding, support for and investment in innovation and technology, and action to make supply chains fairer. The government has also established the Farming and Food Partnership Board, bringing together senior leaders from farming, food, retail and finance to drive profitability and strengthen food security. Defra continues to cooperate openly and transparently with devolved government colleagues on these frameworks – as well as ongoing policy development across the four nations - via informal and formal structures established under the Common Framework for Agricultural Support.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the Sustainable Farming Initiative will apply to upland farms, and in particular, graziers.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
SFI26 is an improved version of SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive). Upland farms below the moorland line can apply for all conventional SFI actions, provided their land is eligible, so will benefit from these improvements. Farms above the moorland line can additionally benefit from increases to some moorland payment rates.
SFI is just part of a range of support Defra offers the uplands, with other support coming from Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, Landscape Recovery, Farming in Protected Landscapes, and the place-based, community-led uplands project Defra is undertaking with Dr Hilary Cottam.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of EU policies such as the Made in Europe initiative and Rules of Origin requirements on the UK motor trade and manufacturing sector.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government continues to engage closely with the UK and European automotive industry to understand the potential impacts of the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act and to make the case for an outcome that supports our shared automotive sector. The current proposal is still subject to changes whilst the file goes through the EU’s legislative process. We are also working with industry and EU counterparts to find potential solutions ahead of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement Electric Vehicle Rules of Origin rule change on 1 January 2027. Now is the time to work together as like-minded partners to boost Europe’s growth, resilience and economic security.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representation they are making to the European Union on issues affecting the UK motor sector, including those relating to supply chains and the manufacture of component parts.
Answered by Lord Leong - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Maintaining frictionless trade and a close, mutually beneficial relationship with the EU for the automotive sector and its wider supply chains is a top priority for this Government. This includes securing a workable outcome on Trade and Cooperation Agreement Electric Vehicle Rules of Origin and making the case for UK inclusion in the EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act. We continue to engage with the European Commission, EU Member States, MEPs and industry on these issues to secure an outcome that supports our closely integrated supply chain with the EU. This result will ultimately benefit businesses on both sides of the Channel.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk to food and animal product exporters of a decline in official veterinarian capacity delaying export health certification ahead of the removal of sanitary and phytosanitary checks.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is currently negotiating an SPS Agreement with the EU. These negotiations are at an advanced stage and expected to remove the requirement for Export Health Certificates (EHC). The Agreement will have implications for Official Veterinarians undertaking export certification, including the demand for EHC services. Defra isworking with the veterinary profession and wider industry stakeholders to monitor this capability and ensure an effective and well-managed transition.