SI 2009/2762. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Coming into force 7 November 2009.

SI 2009/2762. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Coming into force 7 November 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm inspections were conducted by each inspection body in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farm inspections were conducted by each inspection body in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of producing and distributing the Farming Link publication in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of producing and distributing the Farming Link publication in each of the last five years.

The measures that I have set out reflect those requirements and obligations. The ABA forms only one element of the business tax treatment of agriculture. We must consider the rate of corporation tax and other capital allowances. A consideration of the overall business tax picture led the Government to announce...

The measures that I have set out reflect those requirements and obligations. The ABA forms only one element of the business tax treatment of agriculture. We must consider the rate of corporation tax and other capital allowances. A consideration of the overall business tax picture led the Government to announce...

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. He is always generous in engaging in debate. He has chosen a narrow aspect of the ABA in housing. The significant impact of the changes will be on agricultural buildings such as cattle courts, pig houses and hen houses. Before he...

I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. He is always generous in engaging in debate. He has chosen a narrow aspect of the ABA in housing. The significant impact of the changes will be on agricultural buildings such as cattle courts, pig houses and hen houses. Before he...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on securing the debate. He set out clearly for the House the depth of his and his family's commitment to the well-being of agriculture in the UK. It is good to hear about his parents' continuing commitment on their...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael) on securing the debate. He set out clearly for the House the depth of his and his family's commitment to the well-being of agriculture in the UK. It is good to hear about his parents' continuing commitment on their...

As ever, Sir Nicholas, it is a very great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship today. It is also a great pleasure to have the opportunity to debate an issue that is important to many of my constituents—obviously, those working in agriculture in particular—and to the constituents of many other...

As ever, Sir Nicholas, it is a very great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship today. It is also a great pleasure to have the opportunity to debate an issue that is important to many of my constituents—obviously, those working in agriculture in particular—and to the constituents of many other...

I want to return to the Minister's point that the ABA is distorting decisions. The Government actions that I outlined, such as those on improving animal welfare standards and environmental standards, are also distorting decisions. We are forcing farmers into capital investment to make those changes. Surely that is the...

I want to return to the Minister's point that the ABA is distorting decisions. The Government actions that I outlined, such as those on improving animal welfare standards and environmental standards, are also distorting decisions. We are forcing farmers into capital investment to make those changes. Surely that is the...

The question is why it is sensible to subsidise one kind of building in rural areas. Why should we subsidise agricultural buildings rather than commercial buildings or science parks? We have done that in the past and the evidence is that it distorts investment decisions in a way that is...

The question is why it is sensible to subsidise one kind of building in rural areas. Why should we subsidise agricultural buildings rather than commercial buildings or science parks? We have done that in the past and the evidence is that it distorts investment decisions in a way that is...

Can the Minister say how many farmers pay main rate corporation tax?

Can the Minister say how many farmers pay main rate corporation tax?

I am happy to check that figure, but I do not have it in front of me. As part of the package, we introduced a new £50,000 annual investment allowance, which allows 95 per cent. of businesses to write off their expenditure on plant and machinery, other than cars, in...

I am happy to check that figure, but I do not have it in front of me. As part of the package, we introduced a new £50,000 annual investment allowance, which allows 95 per cent. of businesses to write off their expenditure on plant and machinery, other than cars, in...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the agricultural building allowance.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the agricultural building allowance.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how much financial support was given by regional development agencies to the video games industry in 2007-08;

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how much financial support was given by regional development agencies to the video games industry in 2007-08;

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have carried out, or intend to carry out, research into the number of farmworkers displaced by farmevictions in Zimbabwe; and what channels they will use for future assistance to farmworkers and small farmers in Zimbabwe.

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have carried out, or intend to carry out, research into the number of farmworkers displaced by farmevictions in Zimbabwe; and what channels they will use for future assistance to farmworkers and small farmers in Zimbabwe.

SI 2009/1600. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Coming into force 27 July 2009.

SI 2009/1600. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Coming into force 27 July 2009.

My hon. Friend just said that farming forms a relatively small part of the rural economy, but with respect to the part of my constituency that lies in Staffordshire Moorlands, as well as the rest of the rural area of my constituency, does he acknowledge that some of us would...

My hon. Friend just said that farming forms a relatively small part of the rural economy, but with respect to the part of my constituency that lies in Staffordshire Moorlands, as well as the rest of the rural area of my constituency, does he acknowledge that some of us would...

I was very kind to give way to the hon. Gentleman, since he had only just walked into the Chamber, so I shall treat his comments with the contempt that they perhaps deserve. Thirdly, on Jobcentre Plus, the worldwide recession means that support and help for those suffering in the...

I was very kind to give way to the hon. Gentleman, since he had only just walked into the Chamber, so I shall treat his comments with the contempt that they perhaps deserve. Thirdly, on Jobcentre Plus, the worldwide recession means that support and help for those suffering in the...

I do not have those figures immediately to hand, but I will come back to the hon. Gentleman. The percentage is relatively low—probably just over 2 per cent., but the trend and the effect of the increases on the community are worrying. All those people have lost their jobs, with...

I do not have those figures immediately to hand, but I will come back to the hon. Gentleman. The percentage is relatively low—probably just over 2 per cent., but the trend and the effect of the increases on the community are worrying. All those people have lost their jobs, with...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

May I take my hon. Friend back to what he said a few moments ago? Does he not accept that it is of the greatest importance that rural areas have access to high-speed broadband? We must not see a two-tier system in this country, with communities that are already geographically...

May I take my hon. Friend back to what he said a few moments ago? Does he not accept that it is of the greatest importance that rural areas have access to high-speed broadband? We must not see a two-tier system in this country, with communities that are already geographically...