The Agriculture Bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday 12th September 2018, with its second due on the 10th October 2018.
The Bill represents a major success for the Heritage Alliance and others, as in Part 1.1.1 it states that: ‘The Secretary of State may give financial assistance for… the following purposes… (c) managing land or water in a way that maintains, restores or enhances cultural heritage or natural heritage’.
The inclusion of ‘cultural’ heritage within the Bill is the product of a concerted effort by the Alliance, and its members and partners, over the past year to emphasise the need for of parity between the natural environment and historic environment. This can be seen in our briefing on the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan (Jan 2018) and the subsequent Health and Harmony consultation (May 2018). We must now ensure that this parity of importance is maintained as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
The Bill sets out a new ELMS (Environmental Land Management System) through which farmers will be paid for ‘public goods’ i.e. looking after rural heritage, higher animal welfare standards, better air and water quality, and improved public access to the countryside. This will replace the current system of Direct Payments, as instituted by the EU’s CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), which pays farmers on the total amount of land farmed, which skews funding towards the biggest landowners.
In addition to the Bill, policy statements have been published on the future of food, farming, and environment, and the role of the Agriculture Bill. The UK and Welsh Government have also released a joint statement on the progress in developing frameworks for working together on agricultural issues.
The shift is welcomed by CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England- Alliance Member), who support a ‘shift towards rewarding farmers for environmental stewardship.’ The National Trust expressed a generally positive response to the Bill. Patrick Begg (Outdoors and Natural Resources Director for the National Trust) said: “This Bill is a vital step in the right direction and sets a clear direction for policy which will support farmers to restore and sustain our natural environment.” However, the Trust also stressed the need for “a firm commitment to long term funding and investment at a level at least as big as the current payments delivered through the CAP.”
