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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that future SFI schemes do not operate on a first-come, first-served basis for funding applications.

The Government plans to offer SFI in 2027, in keeping with the Farming Roadmap 2050. Defra is exploring alternatives to a first-come, first-served application process for SFI in 2027. Decisions on future application arrangements will be taken as part of the design of SFI27, taking account of fairness, accessibility and deliverability. Detailed scheme arrangements and timings will be published once design and delivery planning have been completed.