Solar Panels on Agricultural Land Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Aphra Brandreth
Main Page: Aphra Brandreth (Conservative - Chester South and Eddisbury)Department Debates - View all Aphra Brandreth's debates with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Solar Panels on Agricultural Land
Aphra Brandreth Excerpts(3 days, 7 hours ago)
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Esther McVey
I will give way first to my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Helen Whately) and then to my constituency neighbour.
Esther McVey
I do indeed. That is precisely why are having this debate: to impress on the Government what actions they need to take.
Aphra Brandreth
My right hon. Friend and constituency neighbour is making an excellent and important speech. Energy security is of course important but, as she has pointed out, we cannot lose sight of the vital importance of food security. Does she agree that we need action, not words? A lot of people have said we should prioritise brownfield sites. It is not enough to say it; we need to make sure that solar panels go on brownfield sites and rooftops instead of building over prime agricultural land.
Esther McVey
I do not know how many tens of thousands of people the Government need to hear saying precisely that before action is taken. Ministers repeatedly state that lower-quality land should be used, but in reality that is not the case. There is a growing gap between policy and practice.