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Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

The future of farming

Status: Open Opened: 6 Dec 2024 11 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

The agricultural sector is experiencing a period of significant change as it transitions away from a legacy direct payments regime towards nation-specific farming schemes. The future of farming inquiry will provide consistent scrutiny of the issues facing the sector as it transitions. It will focus on farmers, farming communities and the agricultural sector, and seek …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - The Government’s vision for farming HC 906 16 May 2025 18 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
1 Conclusion 1st Report - The Government’s vision fo… Accepted

Committee welcomes government commitments to British farming, food security, and planned strategic reviews.

Ministers have taken on responsibility for farming policy in difficult economic and geopolitical circumstances, and we welcome their strong commitments to back British produce, protect farmers in trade deals and improve fairness in the food supply chain. We welcome the increased scrutiny of farming policy in Parliament, and we are …

Government response. The government acknowledges the need for a clear vision and confirms Defra is actively developing the 25-year Farming Roadmap, which will set the direction for the farming sector and aims to publish it later this year.
3 Conclusion 1st Report - The Government’s vision fo… Accepted

Present clearer exposition of government's vision and credible plans for the farming sector.

Farms are professional businesses and remain adaptable to change, but they must plan for changes well in advance with confidence about the future environment they will be operating in. We have concerns that the Department has not yet demonstrated that it is sufficiently alive to the urgency of setting out …

Government response. The government committed to providing more information on the reformed SFI offer later this summer, outlining its core vision and budget controls. It also appointed Baroness Minette Batters to lead a review of farming profitability, supported by a new team.
5 Conclusion 1st Report - The Government’s vision fo… Accepted

Farmers are fundamental; productivity, grants, and fairness are key drivers for self-sufficient farming.

Farmers and the rural community are fundamental to delivering the Government’s plan for change. They provide high quality, nutritious food, deliver environmental goods and maintain landscapes for us all to enjoy. The Government has an exciting opportunity to shape the future of farming as we transition from legacy payments, and …

Government response. The government reopened the Capital Grants offer on 3 July 2025, making £150 million available for farmers to invest in equipment and services. It also committed to ensuring the 25-year Farming Roadmap reflects stakeholder views through continued engagement.
16 Recommendation 1st Report - The Government’s vision fo… Accepted

Review and evaluate Government communication with farming sector, providing analysis and solutions.

The Government should review how it communicates with the farming sector and properly evaluate the impact recent communications have had on trust in the Department. It should provide its analysis and proposed solutions in its response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 61) 34

Government response. The government acknowledged concerns about communication and trust, stating that all communications with the farming sector are already evaluated using the Government Communications Service Evaluation Cycle. However, it did not provide specific analysis or proposed solutions within this report as …
18 Recommendation 1st Report - The Government’s vision fo… Accepted

Improve Defra's communication with Parliament, ensuring policy statements are subject to proper scrutiny.

Defra must improve its communications with Parliament and ensure that statements regarding policy are made in the House and subject to voluntary and proper scrutiny. Defra should affirm its commitment to doing so in its response to this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 63) 35

Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, affirming its commitment to parliamentary scrutiny and stating that work is underway across the Department to improve parliamentary capability, especially concerning written Parliamentary Questions.

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
20 Jan 2026 The Baroness Batters DL View ↗
16 Dec 2025 Dame Angela Eagle MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Gareth Baynham-Hughes · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Mike Dowell · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Mike Rowe · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
1 Apr 2025 Colin Faulkner · Seafish, Daniel Zeichner MP · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Janet Hughes · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Mike Dowell · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
14 Jan 2025 Dame Tamara Finkelstein · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emily Miles · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Jonathan Baker · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs View ↗
11 Dec 2024 David Sturrock · Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), Dr Arun Advani · Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax), Jeremy Moody · Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), Robert Martin · Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), Stuart Maggs · Howes Percival LLP, Tom Bradshaw · National Farmers' Union (NFU), Victoria Vyvyan · Country Land and Business Association View ↗

Correspondence

29 letters
DateDirectionTitle
3 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from the National Pig Association relating to skilled workers vi…
3 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from British Wool relating to seasonal workers visas, dated 15 F…
3 Mar 2026 — Correspondence from National Sheep Association relating to seasonal workers vis…
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Lizzie Wilson, CEO, National Pig Association, on any implicat…
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence from Harry Bowell, Director of Land & Nature at National Trust, …
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Andrew Hogley, Chief Executive, British Wool, on any implicat…
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Phil Stoker, Chair National Sheep Association, on any implica…
28 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from Mike Tapp MP, Minister for Migration & Citizenship, regardi…
28 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from Wendy Chamberlain MP regarding the EFRA Committee holding a…
28 Jan 2026 — Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural affairs following on…
6 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from the Secretary of State, Defra regarding the Farming Profita…
6 Jan 2026 — Correspondence from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and Secretary of St…
9 Dec 2025 — Correspondence from Sir Chris Bryant, Minister of Trade, Dept for Business and …
25 Nov 2025 — Correspondence from the Chair of the Senedd's Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs …
18 Nov 2025 — Correspondence from Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee regarding their report…
21 Oct 2025 — Correspondence from NFU regarding the UK-US Trade Negotiations and the Dairy Se…
2 Sep 2025 — Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding …
24 Jun 2025 — Correspondence to the Minister for Nature regarding Land-Use Framework, dated 1…
18 Jun 2025 — Correspondence from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding …
23 Apr 2025 — Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs following u…