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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for opening the next application round for (a) Capital Grants, (b) the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, (c) the Farming Innovation Programme's Farming Futures R&D competition and (d) the Improving Farm Productivity Grant.

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

As of 1 August, strong demand for the Government’s £150 million Capital Grant offer means that all available funds for this round have now been allocated.

We plan to make further improvements to the offer for future rounds. We expect to open a new round for farmers to secure more funding during 2026. Other Countryside Stewardship capital grants which remain open for applications now are Woodland Tree Health grants, Capital grant plans, woodland management plans, Protection and Infrastructure grants and Higher Tier capital grants.

We continue to work to simplify and rationalise our wider capital grant funding from 2026 onwards. We want to ensure our grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature.

We also welcome the announcement within the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy to allocate at least £200 million to the Farming Innovation Programme up to 2030 which will offer continued targeted funding to drive innovation in agriculture.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to include mirror clauses in future trade agreements for agricultural products.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The government will continue to seek fair and balanced trade deals which include new export opportunities to grow the UK’s world class agri-food and drinks sector.

We recognise concerns about production methods that are not permitted in the UK. While production practices differ internationally due to climate, disease pressures, and other local factors, we will always consider whether such differences create an unfair advantage and any resulting impacts.

We will always maintain UK levels of statutory protection in relation to human, animal or plant life or health, animal welfare, and the environment.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Karen Bradley (Chair); Lewis Atkinson; Mr Paul Kohler; Robbie Moore

Found: Robbie Moore: Action and delivery.