Sustainable Farming Incentive
Debate between Daniel Zeichner and Greg Smith(4 weeks, 2 days ago)
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Daniel Zeichner
I hear the hon. Gentleman, but the fact that we have so many people in agreements, and so much land being farmed within them, shows that many people in this country have absolute confidence in what we are doing.
Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
How on earth does the Minister correlate his statement that he wants to work with the sector with the Government last night giving just 30 minutes’ notice to the NFU—the sector—of this shameful cut to the SFI budget? What does that say about DEFRA’s previous commitment to transparency, co-operation and co-design?
Daniel Zeichner
This process has been going on for five years now. Perhaps the hon. Member should have looked a bit more closely at what was about to happen.
Budget: Implications for Farming Communities
Debate between Daniel Zeichner and Greg Smith(5 months, 1 week ago)
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Daniel Zeichner
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. The people of this country suffered gravely under the last Government, and we will do nothing to make their situation more difficult. In fact, this Budget protects the pay packets of the vast majority of the British people.
Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
There are already very low margins on every farm, including those in Mid Buckinghamshire. Will the addition of between £50 and £75 a tonne on the price of fertiliser, through the Government’s proposed carbon tax, increase food prices? Who will shoulder that burden? Will it be the farmer, or will it be the consumer?
Daniel Zeichner
As the hon. Gentleman knows, a whole range of factors go into food prices. What is very good news is the establishment of GB Energy and a move to a much more affordable and reliable form of power for farmers as well as our consumers. We will all be better off.