Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Paragraph: 46
We are concerned that Defra is already in the process of delivering its multi-billion pound...
Recommendation
We are concerned that Defra is already in the process of delivering its multi-billion pound ELM programme, representing the biggest change to farming policy in decades and a central delivery mechanism for the Government’s environmental goals, without having published any measurable objectives. We understand that the process of developing objectives is underway, but we are already nearly a year into the agricultural transition and Defra has not explained in detail how it will show that the money being taken away from farm payments is being spent effectively. This should happen as soon as possible, and definitely before the Sustainable Farming Incentive opens for applications in 2022, representing the start of the ELM schemes proper. Before the SFI application window opens in 2022, Defra should publish precise, measurable objectives for ELM and explain how it intends to track progress towards achieving these goals. Defra should provide detail on how these objectives will contribute to the Government’s wider environmental ambitions, and will be integrated with other policies and delivery mechanisms including Local Nature Recovery Strategies. It should also set out the role Natural England will play in evaluating schemes and ensuring that they are joined up with other policies.
Paragraph Reference:
46
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
In January 2022 we published more information on the expected outcomes from the environmental land management schemes. This document confirmed that, alongside food production, they will improve water quality, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and mitigation, air quality, natural flood management, coastal erosion risk mitigation and access and heritage. In all cases we will fund the actions that have the greatest possible impact, ideally across multiple outcomes. We will ensure local delivery mechanisms, like Local Nature Recovery Strategies, complement our national priorities and ambitions for the environment. We will keep the expected outcomes under review in the light of statutory Environment Act targets and as we continue our test and learn approach through the agricultural transition. The Government will consult on proposals for a first suite of legally binding long-term environmental targets early this year, following the recent passage of the Environment Act 2021. These targets need to be brought forward as Statutory Instruments (SIs) by 31 October 2022 and will come into force once approved by Parliament. For more detail on the role of Natural England, please see the response below on delivery bodies.