Skip to main content

Written question asked by Steve Barclay (Conservative) on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 July 2025 (named day). It was answered by Daniel Zeichner (Labour) on Monday, 21 July 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.


Farms: Nature Conservation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Spring Statement 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the funding of the Farming and Countryside Programme on the net number of hectares of farmland farmed in a nature-friendly way.

Answer

We are increasing the budget for sustainable farming and are investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery.

Funding for the Environmental Land Management Schemes paid to farmers will increase by 150% from £800 million in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29.

As a result of the Government’s determination to get more farmers to participate, there are now 50,000 farm businesses and half of all farmed land now managed under our schemes – with more money being spent through these schemes than at any point.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
68396
Session
2024-26
Related items
Spring Statement 2025
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects
Finance Farms Nature conservation
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk