Topical Questions
Thursday, 22 October 2026
Contributions
Callum Anderson (Buckingham and Bletchley) (Lab)Labour
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dame Angela Eagle)Labour
We have had a difficult summer, with a prolonged period without rain, which has put enormous stress on our landscapes. Our farms and natural resources are under increased pressure due to climate change. The Prime Minister has asked me to ensure that communities have more of a say in how water is managed, which is all the more important given the summer that we have had. The warnings are clear: if we are to be resilient when it comes to water and food security, we have to help farmers farm differently. Resilience is also about ensuring that the poorest in our communities can have access to good, nutritious food.
Farmers across north Buckinghamshire tell me that rising input costs and global pressures on grain prices are eroding their profit margins and their ability to produce food, so they welcome the Government’s food road map. Will my right hon. Friend explain how she is working with farmers to boost profitability, and might she consider a trip to north Buckinghamshire to hear from my farmers directly?
I think my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice (Emma Hardy), the Minister for water and flooding, visited last week, so my hon. Friend is obviously trying to get a brace. The Government are backing farm profitability through £11.8 billion for sustainable farming and food production; investment in productivity and innovation; and action to make supply chains fairer. We are also working to open up new trading opportunities. The farming road map sets out how Government will support farmers in cutting costs, accessing markets and building resilient businesses.
Mr SpeakerSpeaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
Victoria Atkins (Louth and Horncastle) (Con)Conservative
The Conservative DEFRA team met more than 100 farmers in Berkshire this week, ahead of the Budget, to continue our two-year campaign against the family farm tax and the family business tax. One farmer told us: “I’m sat with a ticking time bomb and it’s unsurvivable for me. I would have to sell the farm to pay the bill.” That is despite the Government’s humiliating partial U-turn. With six days to go before the Budget, can the Secretary of State explain why this Labour Government are putting families through that?
The issues around inheritance tax were dealt with by my predecessor. It was not a humiliating U-turn; it was the result of listening to what people were telling us. If the right hon. Lady wants change but describes a Government change as a humiliating U-turn, I am not quite sure whose side she is on.
I can tell the Secretary of State now that I am not on the side of this Government. While Labour was complaining about black labradors and pubs at its party conference, the Conservatives were listening to rural business owners. They are being squeezed at every turn; the cost of energy, water, heating oil, petrol and diesel, as well as food prices, and the amount of red tape and taxes, are all up under this Government. The Secretary of State may have heard of two of them: Jeremy Clarkson and Cheerful Charlie—in fact, the Secretary of State has stood up Cheerful Charlie three times. They asked a question at our party conference that I hear in market towns and villages across the country under this Government: why would anyone start a business in this country right now?
The right hon. Lady has some brass neck to stand up and say that. When she was in the Treasury, food inflation was at 19.1%. We know that some of the pressures on energy and power, which are in turn putting such pressure on everybody, across all aspects of our economy, are due to global instabilities and what is happening in the middle east. I met Cheerful Charlie, and he is a reasonable man. By the way, I did not stand him up three times; there were some holds in the diary that they put in. I spend my time listening to farming communities, and I will not take any lessons from the right hon. Lady.
Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)Labour
T4. Flooding has caused damage to farmland in my constituency this year, affecting crop yields and threatening food security. The National Farmers’ Union understands that the statutory instrument needed to establish a new internal drainage board will come before the House by the end of this year. Can the Minister confirm a timetable for that and commit to getting this issue resolved?
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Emma Hardy)Labour
My hon. Friend raises an important point. We intend to lay the statutory instrument before Parliament by the end of this year, subject to availability of parliamentary time.
Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) (Con)Conservative
T2. Since the Iran war began, fishermen have seen their fuel costs roughly double, but the Minister has offered no tailored support, instead pointing to schemes that existed long before the conflict began, including rebated red diesel, marine voyages relief and the fishing and coastal growth fund. Meanwhile, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and Germany have provided millions in fuel support to help fishermen catching food for their tables. When will the Government stop making excuses and back Britain’s fishing industry?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Stephen Morgan)Labour
As a Member of Parliament who represents a coastal community, engaging with our fishing community is a priority of mine. That is why I have visited Cornwall and the south-west on a number of occasions. We are working with our fishing and seafood sector to secure a vibrant, profitable and sustainable future, and I continue to listen to the industry on its demands and concerns.
Baggy Shanker (Derby South) (Lab/Co-op)Labour (Co-op)
T5. Given the failures of the privatised water model, what steps is the Department taking to explore alternative ownership models, such as mutualisation, to put the interests of people and communities first? That would give communities a meaningful stake in the governance and accountability of water companies to ensure that people, not profits, are put first.
Our Prime Minister is committed to introducing public control of the water sector. Just last month, we announced that we will remove Thatcher’s outdated cap on Government ownership of water companies. Later this year, our 10-year plan for Britain will set out plans for stronger public control over the water sector, making it work for people and places again.
Sir John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con)Conservative
T3. As well as producing extremely fine wines, Maldon produces excellent oysters—I would be delighted to welcome any members of the ministerial team to visit. Will the Department do more to promote the shellfish industry? In particular, will it look to introduce a specific aquaculture qualification to try to attract more apprentices into the industry?
The right hon. Member will have heard what I said about the value of the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement, but more broadly, Seafish obviously has a role in promoting seafood around the world. It was a real pleasure to be in Paris earlier this week at one of the world’s largest food and drink expos, promoting British products, including oysters.
Melanie Onn (Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) (Lab)Labour
T6. Staff at the Sewing Shop in Grimsby are keen to see the rapid introduction of the deposit return scheme, so when can we anticipate seeing it, and will the Minister make sure that retailers do not derail that initiative?
Many of our older constituents, including my mum, remember returning bottles to the recycling bank and receiving money for them; it made sense then, and it makes sense now. Significant progress has been made on the deposit return scheme, but there is still lots of work to do.
Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)Liberal Democrat
Both public and private sector organisations sometimes experience year-long delays in obtaining permits from the Environment Agency to undertake desilting and other critical watercourse flood prevention work. Will the Minister meet me to understand these issues and ensure resources are getting to where they are needed, to keep our homes and businesses safe?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and will make sure that the relevant Environment Agency area director meets him to look at the concerns he has raised.
Dr Sam Rushworth (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)Labour
Farmers in my constituency are concerned about the rising cost of fertiliser, which risks making them uncompetitive. On their behalf, can I ask the Minister whether she will engage with the Treasury to consider delaying the carbon border adjustment mechanism, and also do more to ensure we can develop domestic, low-carbon fertiliser?
The Government recognise the pressures facing farmers and the food and farming sector. Fertiliser CBAM liabilities are expected to be below 1% of current prices, with impacts on farmers very limited. Over time, CBAM—alongside domestic farming policy—will support the transition towards more resilient, low-carbon supply chains while maintaining food production.
Charlie Maynard (Witney) (LD)Liberal Democrat
Will the Minister meet me to discuss the legal opinion I co-commissioned, outlining the legal grounds for possibly putting Thames Water into special administration?
There are many legal opinions on that issue. I am more than happy to ensure that the hon. Member gets a meeting, but lawyers have very many different opinions.
Michelle Scrogham (Barrow and Furness) (Lab)Labour
Yesterday, I attended an event on fixing the sewage in Lake Windermere. Does the Minister agree that United Utilities needs to address the long-overdue flooding issues at Ulverston before it adds additional pressure to that area of the system?
My hon. Friend is quite right that we need to start thinking about flooding and water management in a more holistic way. We are looking at early roll-out of regional planning systems, which means we will start to address the issues of water quality and of flooding and water scarcity in the same area. My hon. Friend is right to hold water companies to account for delivering on the commitments they have made.
I call the Chair of the Select Committee.
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)Liberal Democrat
As the Government start redesigning the sustainable farming incentive, can I draw their attention to an initiative launched today by Aldi and ABP, “Grounded in Goodness”, which is paying a premium to their beef producers? It is only £4.5 million and one supermarket, so it is not a panacea, but it is a good start, rooted in the principles of simplicity, accessibility and food production. As the Secretary of State redesigns the SFI, would that not be a good model to follow?
We did simplify the SFI this year, having inherited a scheme that had not only no budget control, but over 140 different actions. I am looking at this issue, and am more than happy to talk to the right hon. Gentleman about the principles he has outlined as we work to introduce a simpler, easier to use scheme in 2027.
Dr Marie Tidball (Penistone and Stocksbridge) (Lab)Labour
I am deeply frustrated on behalf of my constituent Adele Riddle, whose Townend Farm is currently included in the Sheffield local plan. She wants it taken out, especially because an inspector’s recent report says that the land is of higher quality than the plan rates it. Given that the further main modifications consultation closes next week, does the Minister agree that the quality of agricultural land should always be taken into account when considering local plan site allocations?
I welcome the Minister.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jenny Riddell-Carpenter)Labour
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The land use framework will help deliver faster, clearer and more co-ordinated decisions on housing and infrastructure, ensuring that our most productive farmland is safeguarded. As part of the implementation of that framework, we will complete a technical review of the agricultural land classification system by 2028.
Final question—I call Sir Jeremy Hunt.
Sir Jeremy Hunt (Godalming and Ash) (Con)Conservative
Thank you for squeezing me in, Mr Speaker. On 7 September, Natural England submitted the legal orders for a 30.5% expansion of the Surrey Hills national landscape, which would transform biodiversity and nature protection in my area. The decision is now on the Secretary of State’s desk. When will she make that decision, and would she like to come to Surrey Hills to announce it and try out some of our fantastic local pubs?
I presume that if I give the correct answer, the local pubs will be more welcoming than if I do not, but I am happy to be in touch with the right hon. Gentleman about how we proceed from here.
Source: UK Parliament Hansard API. Debate ID: 5423136.