Budget: Implications for Farming Communities

Kieran Mullan Excerpts

Monday 4th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Dr Mullan, I heard you before, and I am certainly not putting up with it this time. If you want to leave, do so now, because I want to be able to hear others. Do we understand each other?

[Dr Kieran Mullan (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

indicated assent.

[Mr Speaker]

Thank you. Carry on, Minister.

--- Later in debate ---

[Daniel Zeichner]

There is nothing daft about putting this country’s finances on a sound footing. I say to the hon. Gentleman’s constituents, if they want a decent health service, schools and transport, this Budget will deliver that.

[Dr Kieran Mullan (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

May I politely suggest to the Minister that the time for his weekend reading was before deciding the policy, not afterwards? Farmers in my constituency, including Jonathan Vine-Hall, tell me that the change to the relief will make it financially non-viable to pass on his very typical 450 acre farm. Does the Minister agree with me that the likely outcome of that will be that disinterested investors will buy the farm instead, which is exactly what he seeks to avoid?

[Daniel Zeichner]

The likely outcome will be that people will put arrangements in place to pass on their farms at the appropriate time, pulling more younger people into farming, which will be a good thing. My overall message to farmers across Britain is, “This Government are on your side. We will support you. Look at the agricultural budget and the money that has been paid out of the flood budget. We are with you. Don’t listen to these people.”