Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release of 19 October 2014, on the reduction of subsidies for solar farms to safeguard farmland, what estimate she has made of the potential annual change in mW of solar-generated energy as a result of that policy.
Answered by George Eustice
The decision to make land covered by solar panels ineligible for the CAP Basic Payment Scheme reflects the fact that agriculture is no longer the predominant use of such land. The Government wants farmers to prioritise making the best use of their land for agriculture and food production. However, we have made no estimate of the potential annual reduction in generating capacity.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the conclusions of the BRE National Solar Centre Report on Biodiversity Guidance for Solar Developments published in partnership; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
We want farmers to prioritise making the best use of their land for agriculture and food production, rather than secondary uses. Nevertheless, we welcome the work of the BRE in partnership with the solar and biodiversity conservation sectors to encourage best practice where solar farms are permitted, to mitigate some of the impacts of these developments.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the conclusions of the recent report by the NFU, National Solar Centre and Solar Trade Association Report on Agricultural Good Practice Guidance for Solar Farms; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
We welcome the work of the farming and solar sectors to encourage best practice in the deployment of solar energy. The Agricultural Good Practice Guidance for Solar Farms highlights some important issues for developers to consider, such as flood risk and traffic management during construction. Nevertheless, the Government wants farmers to prioritise making the best use of their land for agriculture and food production
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of restricting farm subsidy payments for land fitted with solar panels through the Common Agricultural Policy on the food and farming industry.
Answered by George Eustice
Removing CAP subsidy payments from land on which solar arrays are hosted will ensure that farm subsidies support farmers whose primary use of the land is for agriculture and food production.