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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to include provisions on heritage and the historic environment in the forthcoming agriculture Bill; and what representations he has received on that topic.

The Government published “Health and Harmony: The future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit” on 27 February.

At the heart of our proposals is a new system of paying farmers and land managers “public money for public goods”. Amongst the public goods we are consulting on are the preservation of environmental goods including enhancing beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment. Other public goods could include the preservation of traditional farming and landscapes in certain areas, and public access to the countryside. The consultation also seeks views on what other public goods the Government should support.

We are currently analysing the responses received to the consultation so far. The consultation closes on 8 May and we will publish a response in due course.