Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 117187

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Tabled: 2 March 2026

Answered: 11 March 2026

Question

Ben Maguire

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans adjustments to ensure parity between (a) legacy Higher Level Stewardship agreements, and (b) current Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements, for th

Answer

Dame Angela Eagle

In February last year, Defra recognised that Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates had fallen behind the rates offered through other schemes including Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). Defra invested £30 million to increase payment rates ...

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