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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he will take to support famers on delivering (a) nature recovery and (b) other vital services.

We know that farmers face many pressures. Farmers do essential work in producing high quality food for consumption at home and for export. In the light of the current global economic situation, we know that the cost of inputs has gone up, which might make it more difficult for farmers to both improve the natural environment and underpin food production.

We are looking at the frameworks for regulation, innovation and investment that impact farmers and land managers, to make sure that our policies, including nature recovery, are best placed to both boost food production and protect the environment. We are designing all our schemes, including our farming investment fund and environmental land management schemes to be accessible and supportive. We’ll continue to work closely with the sector to ensure these are designed and rolled out in their best interests, delivering the outcomes that the British people want to see.