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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to establish, and (2) to publish, a register of participants of the Environmental Land Management Scheme; if so, where any such register will be published; and whether any such register will include detail on the scheme (a) requirements, and (b) participant’s (i) land holdings, (ii) land area, (iii) land managers, (iv) joining date, and (v) other relevant matters.

Section 2(8) of the Agriculture Act 2020 provides the Secretary of State with the power to make regulations requiring the Secretary of State or another person to publish specified information about any financial assistance that has been given under the Act.

In August 2020, Defra conducted a targeted consultation inviting the views of stakeholders on a proposed Financial Assistance Statutory Instrument which would require the publication of detailed beneficiary information of those participating in the Environmental Land Management National Pilot. Defra is currently considering the responses submitted during the consultation ahead of introducing the Statutory Instrument for Parliament to consider ahead of the launch of the National Pilot in 2021. A response to the views received on the consultation document will be shared with stakeholders in due course.