Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to retain dedicated payment rates for (a) organic conversion and (b) organic maintenance within the revised Sustainable Farming Incentive.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Yes, recent announcements have confirmed that DEFRA is retaining dedicated payment rates for organic conversion. Defra has also confirmed that it is removing three actions relating to maintenance of organic land; however, organic farmers will be able to apply for existing conventional actions instead of the ones removed.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the new Sustainable Farming Incentive offer will include long-term organic maintenance payments that take into account the level of similar payments offered in the EU and devolved Administrations.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra reviews environmental scheme approaches used internationally, including those in the EU and the devolved nations, to inform our thinking. However, the department ultimately designs and implement schemes that we believe are most appropriate for England.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 10% commission charge on park home residents requiring residential care in Wiltshire.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97962 on 15 December 2025.
Asked by: Sarah Gibson (Liberal Democrat - Chippenham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many applications for Fit and Proper Person status have been (a) granted, (b) refused and (c) granted subject to conditions since The Mobile Homes (Requirement for Manager of Site to be Fit and Proper Person) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The fit and proper person test, which applies to a site owner or the person appointed to manage a site, is intended to ensure that those managing park home sites are competent to do so.
Where properly applied by local authorities, the legislation has been shown to be effective.
Local authorities are responsible for administering the fit and proper person test. They are required to publish and maintain a register of persons they are satisfied are fit and proper persons to manage a park home site in their area. The information contained in these registers is held locally and is not held centrally.
My Department will continue to monitor the operation of the test and consider whether any changes are required.