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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to introduce grants to support small-scale local food producers.

Large and small scale local food producers play an important role in supporting the rural economy and the farmed environment. The Government’s consultation, “Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit” which set out the policy framework for agriculture in England after the UK leaves the EU closed on 8 May. In this consultation we provided a clear direction for future farm support – public money for public goods. As part of this, we asked for views from those in the industry to make sure future agricultural policy reflects the reality of life for farmers and food producers. All responses received are being analysed and will be used to inform future policy.