Agriculture Bill (Third sitting)

Chris Davies Excerpts

Thursday 25th October 2018 Public Bill Committees

[Deidre Brock]

Q What happens if those payments get stopped by future Governments? What would you envisage happening then?

Professor Fox: I am not sure I can provide you with a view on that. Clearly, what we have in the Bill is a sensible transition period covering a number of years to allow the industry to move into a new framework of payments. I think that is entirely helpful; it will allow the whole industry to adapt to a new way of thinking for the public. The scale of investment will be a matter for Government.

[Chris Davies (Brecon and Radnorshire) (Con)]

Q Two quick questions, if I may; the first is to Professor Fox. You mentioned flood mitigation. The commercial forestry sector is a very important industry in this country. Do you see commercial forestry playing a part in flood mitigation?

Professor Fox: Yes.

[Chris Davies]

Q Thank you—very succinct. Ms Taylor, you are in charge of further schemes. We are way behind at the moment in tree planting in this country. Do you see a way within the Bill of devising a scheme to support the commercial forestry sector over the next 50 to 100 years?

Helen Taylor: As a point of clarity, I am not in charge of that; I am just trying to support DEFRA’s thinking in terms of future farming. There is certainly room within thinking at the moment to consider the value and benefit of forestry in helping to deliver those public goods.

[Trudy Harrison (Copeland) (Con)]

Q Ms Taylor, in your views, you state that the Bill would be a

“starting point for the conversion of the agriculture sector to the one we would like to see.”

In no other industry is knowledge passed on from generation to generation more than in farming. Farmers know their land best. How do you feel that smaller upland and lowland farms will benefit from the Bill, and how will it encourage the next generation of young farmers?

Helen Taylor: I agree that knowledge is passed on in this sector. The potential to recognise the public goods that some of those smaller holdings have been promoting and protecting over the years is an advantage for them in the future. Could you repeat the second part of your question, sorry?

--- Later in debate ---

[The Chair]

A quick, final question from Chris Davies, and a quick answer, please.

[Chris Davies]

Q The Scottish and Irish unions are coming in this afternoon, and we had the Welsh in two days ago. How important is this UK framework for implementing the Bill?

Jack Ward: We are particularly interested in the producer organisation—it is really important that we do not end up with four schemes. It will be a nightmare if we end up having to face four different directions and four different regulating authorities.

[Chris Davies]

Do you agree, Ms Browning?

Helen Browning: Absolutely—I think that the more unity we have on these things, the better. Life is going to get complicated enough, so I urge collaboration wherever we can find it.

[The Chair]

Thank you very much indeed, Mr Ward and Ms Browning. We are indebted to you for the time and effort that you put into coming to see us.

Ordered, That further consideration be now adjourned. —(Iain Stewart.)