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Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Soil Health

Status: Closed Opened: 7 Dec 2022 Closed: 23 May 2024 25 recommendations 11 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry is analysing the Government’s role in preventing further soil degradation and restoring soils across England, including through its Environmental Land Management Schemes and Soil Health Action Plan for England, expected in early 2023. To inform this inquiry, the EFRA Committee launched a farmer survey on soil health . The Committee wanted to hear … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Soil health HC 245 5 Dec 2023 36 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
32 Recommendation First Report - Soil health Not Addressed

Develop new funding systems for Environment Agency compliance monitoring and site visits.

More monitoring will mean that these agencies need to be fully resourced. In the case of the Environment Agency, where funding for monitoring usually comes via the Environmental Permitting regulations, the Department needs to come up with ways of driving up this funding. This could be achieved by putting more … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it uses advice-led approaches and technology, such as earth observation, to enable more efficient inspections and targeted advice for soil damage prevention. However, the response does not address the specific recommendation to increase funding for agency monitoring or develop new systems for …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
33 Recommendation First Report - Soil health Not Addressed

Publish clear, resourced compliance monitoring regime by 2028 for farm visits.

The EA and the RPA should continue with the “supportive” approach to compliance monitoring. By the end of the agricultural transition in 2028, however, Defra and these institutions should publish a clear and transparent regime of comprehensive site visits and other actions that they will take to help farmers comply … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government advocates for advice-led approaches and efficient inspections using earth observation technology to identify land management risks. However, the response does not commit to publishing a comprehensive regime of site visits by 2028, ensuring routine visits every few years, or developing ways to increase …
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Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
18 Jul 2023 Fiona James · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Mark Spencer · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Sion McGeever · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
13 Jun 2023 Dr Eleanor Reed · Natural England, Professor John Gilliland OBE · Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Tony Grayling · Environment Agency View ↗
24 May 2023 Dr Jane Gilbert, Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, Dr Martin Blackwell · Rothamsted Research, Helen Browning · Soil Association, Jenny Grant · Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), John Williams · ADAS, Professor David Spurgeon · UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Professor Karen Johnson · Durham University View ↗
9 May 2023 James Robinson · Nature Friendly Farming Network, James Woodward · Sustain Alliance, Professor Pippa Chapman · University of Leeds, Richard Bramley · National Farmers Union (NFU) View ↗
3 May 2023 James Robinson · Nature Friendly Farming Network, Mr James Woodward · Sustain Alliance, Professor Pippa Chapman · University of Leeds, Richard Bramley · National Farmers Union (NFU) View ↗
7 Mar 2023 Dr Jacqueline Hannam · British Society of Soil Science, Martin Ballard · Society for the Environment, Mr Graeme Willis · CPRE - The Countryside Charity, Mr Kyle Lischak · ClientEarth, Mr Matthew Orman · Sustainable Soils Alliance, Professor Bridget Emmett · UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
James Robinson · England Vice Chair Nature Friendly Farming Network 2
Professor Pippa Chapman · Chair in Biogeochemistry in the School of Geograp… University of Leeds 2
Richard Bramley · Environment Forum Chair National Farmers Union (NFU) 2
Dr Eleanor Reed · Principal Specialist in Soils Natural England 1
Dr Jacqueline Hannam · President British Society of Soil Science 1
Dr Jane Gilbert, Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management — 1
Dr Martin Blackwell · Soil Biogeochemist Rothamsted Research 1
Fiona James · Deputy Director for Policy Design, Farming and Co… Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Helen Browning · Chief Executive Soil Association 1
James Woodward · Sustainable farming officer Sustain Alliance 1
Jenny Grant · Head of Organics and Natural Capital Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) 1
John Williams · Head of Soils and Nutrients ADAS 1
Martin Ballard · Soil and stones project lead Society for the Environment 1
Mr Graeme Willis · Agricultural Lead CPRE - The Countryside Charity 1
Mr James Woodward · Sustainable Farming Officer Sustain Alliance 1
Mr Kyle Lischak · Head of UK ClientEarth 1
Mr Matthew Orman · Director Sustainable Soils Alliance 1
Professor Bridget Emmett · Head for Soils and Land Use UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology 1
Professor David Spurgeon · Ecotoxicological researcher UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) 1
Professor John Gilliland OBE · Special Adviser Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) 1
Professor Karen Johnson · Professor in Environmental Engineering Durham University 1
Rt Hon Mark Spencer · Minister of State (Minister for Food, Farming and… Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Sion McGeever · Deputy Director for Access, Landscapes, Peatland … Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 1
Tony Grayling · Director of Sustainable Business and Development Environment Agency 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
21 May 2024 — Correspondence from the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries relating to th…
23 Apr 2024 — Correspondence to the Secretary of State regarding the Government's response to…