Farming and Food Production: Land Use Framework Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Lord Roborough
Main Page: Lord Roborough (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Roborough's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Farming and Food Production: Land Use Framework
Lord Roborough Excerpts(3 weeks, 1 day ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
My noble friend is right that it is a very small percentage. People sometimes think that solar panels are on agricultural land when in fact they are on brownfield. A very large solar development near where I live has just been given permission; it looks like it will be built on a lot of fields but, actually, it is an old mining site and brownfield.
Lord Roborough (Con)
My Lords, the land use framework identified the need for greater intensity and yields from our best farmland to compensate for the loss of production elsewhere. Market prices for agricultural commodities do not currently support an incentive to intensify this production and underpin our food security. Can the Minister clarify what support is given to farmers with this land through ELMS to meet the Government’s goals and enhance our food security? I declare my interest as a farmer.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
The Government are supporting farmers through a number of different schemes. For example, we have committed at least £200 million through the farming innovation programme to support productivity improvements. We are also supporting skills development, farmer collaboration and adoption of innovative land management practices. There is a lot going on and a lot of options for farmers who are looking for support.