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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of her Department's agricultural budget for the 2026-27 financial year will be spent on existing multi-year agri-environment agreements.

We are investing £2.7 billion a year into sustainable food production and nature's recovery. Overall, farmers and land managers will benefit from an average of £2.3 billion a year through the Farming and Countryside Programme. And up to £400 million from additional nature schemes, including those for tree planting and peatland restorations. Funding for the Environmental Land Management schemes paid to farmers, which includes multi-annual agri-environment agreements, will increase by 150% from £800 billion in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29.

Defra manages the farming budget flexibly. To respond to demand and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare.

In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year, including FCP spend broken down by each scheme.