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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the (a) Country Land and Business Association, (b) National Farmer's Union, (c) Tenant Farmers Association and (d) other industry bodies to help support working farms.

The Government is working to ensure farming becomes more profitable. That is the best way to make farming businesses viable for the future and ensure the long-term food security this country needs.

We regularly meet and discuss Defra’s policies with a range of farming stakeholders, including the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), the National Farmers Union (NFU), and the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA). Since appointment, the Secretary of State has spoken at 4 farming conferences, and had 5 meetings with the CLA, 7 with the NFU and 13 with other organisations.

We will continue to listen to farmers’ concerns to ensure their views are heard.