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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with referenced to page 64 of the Clean Air Strategy which independent experts he plans to comprise the board that will make recommendations on the maximum limits of fertiliser application.

The Government launched a consultation on the Clean Air Strategy on 22 May. This ambitious Strategy aims to cut air pollution and save lives by achieving substantial reductions in emissions of five pollutants, including ammonia, which are harmful to human health and the environment.

The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory report published in 2018 provides estimates of ammonia emissions from agriculture in the year 2016. The report attributes the 3.2% rise in ammonia emissions between 2015 and 2016 to a slight increase in numbers of dairy cattle and an increase in the use of urea-based fertilisers. The report indicates that the increased use of fertilisers is likely to be due to price variation between different fertiliser types.

Farming accounts for 88% of ammonia emissions in the UK. The Clean Air Strategy proposes concerted action to tackle these emissions by requiring and supporting farmers to invest in the equipment that will reduce emissions. It includes proposals to regulate to reduce ammonia emissions from farming and consults on three approaches. Proposals include regulations to reduce emissions from storage and spreading of slurry and manure and from use of urea-based fertilisers.

The Strategy sets out the support that has been provided to farmers through the Farm Ammonia Reduction Grant which offered grants for covering slurry stores and provided on-farm advice. It also highlights the grants now available through the Countryside Productivity Scheme to help farmers purchase manure management equipment including low-emission spreaders and through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme for slurry tank and lagoon covers for farmers in priority water catchments.

Defra has worked with farming industry organisations to develop a Code of good agricultural practice which will be published later this year.

As set out in the Clean Air Strategy a group of independent specialists will be recruited to make recommendations on the maximum limits that should be applied for fertiliser application. Details of the members of this group will be available in due course.

The Agriculture Bill will set the foundations for a future domestic agricultural policy as the UK leaves the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy. As set out in the Health and Harmony consultation, future financial support for farming should see public money paying for public goods. The new environmental land management scheme, underpinned by natural capital principles, will contribute to delivering against many of the key outcomes set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan and the Clean Growth Strategy. These include clean air; clean and plentiful water; thriving plants and wildlife, which habitat protection would contribute to; reduced risk of harm from environmental hazards such as flooding and drought; using resources from nature more sustainably and efficiently; enhanced beauty, heritage and engagement for the natural environment and mitigating and adapting to climate change.