Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 15988 on Agriculture: Inheritance Tax, on what evidential basis his Department (a) determined that 73% of claims will be for less than £1 million and (b) used to identify the proportion of the remaining 27% of affected estates that are active family-run farms; and what information his Department holds on the proportion of agricultural land sales purchased by (i) large corporations and (ii) investment firms in (A) Scotland and (B) the UK in each of the last five years.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As referenced in the answer to PQ 15988, 73 per cent (1,264 of 1,730) of claims by estates for agricultural property relief in 2021-22 were for properties valued below £1 million. This is calculated using a table published by HM Treasury using HMRC data in Summary of reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief, statistical annex (30 October 2024).

According to further analysis of HMRC claims data published by HM Treasury, in 2026/27 the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 of the estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax. This means almost three-quarters (1,260 of 1,780) of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data. See the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s letter to the Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, Dame Meg Hillier MP: committees.parliament.uk/publications/45691/documents/226235/default/.

Defra has not made an assessment of the proportion of farming businesses that are “family-run farms”. Defra does not hold information on the purchasers of agricultural land. The Government’s assessment relates to claims for agricultural property relief and business property relief. The qualifying conditions for these reliefs are set out in Part 5 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the development of the space industry in the UK.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Space is a strategic priority for this government and is essential to achieving our mission to deliver growth as a priority. The National Space Strategy and our identified priority capability goals continue to drive government policy.

We will publish an ambitious programme for space when the Spending Review has completed.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to ban the use of neonicotinoids in UK agriculture.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Three neonicotinoids – clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam – have not been authorised for general use as pesticides since 2018 because of the risks they pose to pollinators.

An application for emergency use of the neonicotinoid pesticide Cruiser SB, containing thiamethoxam, on sugar beet in England in 2025 was not approved.

Both during our election campaign and while in office, this Government has given a commitment to end emergency authorisations for these three pesticides. The next steps towards delivering this commitment were set out in a published policy statement and in a written statement to Parliament on 6 January.

Found: membership Patricia Ferguson (Labour; Glasgow West) (Chair) Maureen Burke (Labour; Glasgow North East) Harriet Cross

Found: membership Patricia Ferguson (Labour; Glasgow West) (Chair) Maureen Burke (Labour; Glasgow North East) Harriet Cross

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Patricia Ferguson (Chair); Harriet Cross; Mr Angus MacDonald; Douglas

Found: _33 Matt Vickers Alicia Kearns Harriet Cross Katie Lam .

Found: _31 Matt Vickers Alicia Kearns Harriet Cross Katie Lam .

Found: _33 Matt Vickers Alicia Kearns Harriet Cross Katie Lam ★.

Found: o Kirsteen Sullivan MP o Maureen Burke MP o Elaine Stewart MP • 2 Conservative MPs o Harriet Cross