Lords committee explores agricultural impact of drought

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee continues its inquiry into drought preparedness in England by exploring the impact of drought on the agricultural sector and opportunities to increase resilience.

The session will take place on Wednesday 7 January from 10am. It can be followed live or afterwards on Parliament TVor in person in the Palace of Westminster (committee room 4).

Giving evidence will be:

• Mark Betson,

National Water Resource Specialist, National Farmers' Union (NFU);

• John Patrick,

Group Manager, East Suffolk Water Abstractor Group (ESWAG);

• Steve Moncaster,

Managing Director, Norfolk Environment Food and Farming (NEFF).

Questions from the committee will cover the following areas:

• how agricultural businesses are affected by drought;
• the involvement of agricultural businesses in their local, regional and national drought planning processes;
• how farmers are preparing for droughts;
• water storage;
• integrating nature-based solutions for drought and flood resilience.