Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to strengthen the accountability of local authorities in the management of their county council smallholding estates as proposed by the Tenancy Reform Industry Group in October 2017.

The government is committed to supporting a vibrant tenant farming sector which creates opportunities for new entrants to the industry. Last year I asked the Tenancy Reform Industry Group to give an opinion on a range of issues. This included giving consideration to how Defra might make greater use of its powers under the 1970 Agriculture Act. I have received their report and we are considering these matters further.