Oral Answers to Questions

Harriet Cross Excerpts

Thursday 12th September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Steve Reed]

As I have already said, we are looking to strengthen, not weaken the regulation. The regulation was inappropriate. It is not just the regulation itself, but the lack of resources the regulators have had. That is why the Water (Special Measures) Bill we are introducing will allow the regulators to claw back resources from water companies that are successfully prosecuted, so that they have the firepower to prosecute further wrongdoing by those water companies or others responsible for it.

[Harriet Cross (Gordon and Buchan) (Con)]

5. If he will maintain the level of funding for farming.

[John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) (Con)]

10. What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for farming.

[The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Steve Reed)]

The Government will restore stability and confidence in the sector by introducing a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security alongside nature’s recovery. The Government are currently conducting a spending review, which will conclude in October. Departmental budgets, including spending on farming, will be confirmed through this process.

[Harriet Cross]

The Labour party manifesto rightly stated that the Labour party

“recognises that food security is national security.”

I agree, but those words must be matched with actions. We have already asked today about future budgets, but have not heard any answers. Will the Secretary of State confirm that there will be no real-terms cuts to the agriculture budget?

[Steve Reed]

As the hon. Member will know, there is a spending review process going on, which will culminate with announcements in the Budget. That is the point at which all of that will be made clear and apparent.

I would gently remind the hon. Member that it was her Government who underspent the farming budget by £130 million in the previous financial year. That money should have been in the pockets of farmers, who desperately need it for the work they are doing to provide the food we want to eat and to help nature’s recovery, yet that Government were too incompetent to get it out the door. This Government will make sure that the money allocated to farmers is handed over to farmers so that they are able to use it for the purposes for which it is intended.