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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to help support tenant farmers to access the capital grants scheme.

Defra reopened the Capital Grants offer from 3rd July, with £150 million available for this new round, allowing farmers to buy equipment or services that help them make environmental improvements. We have made the offer as accessible as possible to tenant farmers. Tenants can apply if they either have 5 years remaining on their tenancy or have the countersignature of their landlord, who is agreeing to take on the responsibilities of the agreement if the tenancy ends during the 5 year period. This is because they need to be able to install and maintain any items funded through the offer for 5 years from the start of their agreement.