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Key legislation on track to become law in time to
kickstart agricultural transition period next year
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Agriculture Bill scrutinised by a Committee of the
whole House of Lords
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Bill will replace the EU’s flawed Common Agriculture
Policy with a system where farmers are rewarded with public
money for public goods
Legislation that will transform British
farming is back in the House of Lords for the next stage in its
journey to becoming law today (7 July).
Defra Lords Minister Lord Gardiner will be
leading several sittings of the whole house as part of the Bill’s
Committee stage, expected to take place over the next two
weeks.
Last week, the government also announced it
will establish a Trade and Agriculture Commission, which will
ensure that the UK’s trade policy fully considers our
agricultural industry and our commitment to maintain the UK’s
high environmental protection, animal welfare and food safety
standards.
The Bill was first introduced to the House of
Commons on 16 January to deliver on the government’s manifesto
commitments to ensure a smooth and gradual transition away from
the EU’s flawed Common Agriculture Policy, which simply pays
farmers based on the total amount of land farmed, and replace it
with a system where farming efficiently and improving the
environment go hand in hand.
The Bill sets out our ambitious plans for a
new land management system, where farmers are rewarded with
public money for public goods, such as improving air and water
quality and providing habitats for wildlife. At the same
time, it will help to boost productivity and maximise the
potential of land for producing high quality food in a more
sustainable way.
Defra Minister
said:
“The Agriculture Bill is just the beginning of
our journey to deliver a once-in-a generation transformation in
the way that we farm our land and produce the food that we
eat.
“We will put our farmers and land managers at
the heart of that journey. This Bill will allow us to support
them by rewarding protection and enhancement of the environment,
while enabling their businesses to prosper by continuing to
produce outstanding British food and drink to be enjoyed in the
UK and abroad.
“I am delighted to move this Bill forward and
I look forward to working with parliamentary colleagues to move
ever closer to writing it into law.”
During the Committee stage of the Bill, peers
will have the opportunity scrutinise this landmark piece of
legislation line–by–line, as well as consider any amendments
tabled by peers following the Second Reading earlier this
month.
The government remains confident that the
Agriculture Bill will reach Royal Assent in time to begin our
transition towards a new, fairer agricultural system in England
as planned in 2021.
