Agriculture & Rural Economy
Commons business tagged with this topic — 21 items.
Upcoming (4)
- Oral questionsThu, 9 Jul 2026— Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (including Topical Questions)
This is a scheduled question time session for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs department. MPs will pose oral questions to the responsible minister on current issues affecting farming, environmental policy, rural communities, and food security. Topical questions allow MPs to raise pressing, timely matters that have emerged since the order paper was published, giving Parliament the chance to scrutinise the government's handling of these areas.
- Ten Minute Rule MotionTue, 7 Jul 2026
Outdoor education
Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat, North Cornwall) will use a Ten Minute Rule Motion to raise concerns about the availability and accessibility of medical services in rural areas. This procedural device allows him to speak for ten minutes and invite other MPs to support a motion, though it does not lead directly to legislation. The motion highlights gaps in healthcare provision outside urban centres, where GP surgeries, hospital services, and emergency care are often stretched or distant.
- Westminster Hall debateWed, 1 Jul 2026
Government support for the fishing industry
A Westminster Hall debate examining how rising costs are affecting food producers across the UK. Sponsored by John Lamont, a Conservative MP representing a rural Scottish constituency, the debate will explore the financial pressures facing farms and food manufacturers — including input costs, labour, and energy — and their knock-on effects on food availability and prices for consumers.
- Oral evidenceTue, 30 Jun 2026
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Biosecurity and animal welfare
A private meeting of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. The committee oversees policy on farming, environmental protection, food standards, and rural development. Private meetings typically involve internal business such as work planning, evidence review, or strategic discussion of ongoing inquiries.
Past (17)
- Ministerial statementWed, 24 Jun 2026
Farming Roadmap and response to the Farming Profitability Review
The government will present its farming roadmap and response to the Farming Profitability Review, setting out its strategy to support farm viability and rural agricultural livelihoods. The statement will outline the government's plan for the farming sector following an independent review of farm incomes and profitability challenges.
- Westminster Hall debateWed, 24 Jun 2026
Financial sustainability of the farming sector
A Westminster Hall debate on the financial viability of the farming sector, sponsored by Labour MP David Smith from North Northumberland. The debate will examine the economic challenges facing farmers, including input costs, market prices, and business sustainability, and explore what support or policy measures may be needed to ensure the sector's long-term financial health.
- Oral evidenceTue, 23 Jun 2026
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Climate adaptation and emergency response
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will take oral evidence on how the UK can adapt to climate impacts and strengthen emergency response systems. This inquiry examines the readiness of farming, food production, and rural communities to handle climate-related shocks—from floods and droughts to extreme weather—and whether government preparedness matches the scale of future risks.
- Westminster Hall debateWed, 17 Jun 2026
Fiscal support for rural pubs
A Westminster Hall debate on fiscal support measures for rural pubs, sponsored by Conservative MP Saqib Bhatti. The debate will examine the economic pressures facing pubs in rural areas and explore what tax breaks, grants, or other Treasury support the government might provide to help them survive.
- Oral questionsThu, 4 Jun 2026— Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (including Topical Questions)
MPs will question the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary on departmental priorities and current issues affecting farming, food security, and environmental policy. Topical questions allow backbenchers to raise urgent, time-sensitive matters without prior notice, so the agenda will depend on what MPs choose to ask on the day—likely covering rural livelihoods, agricultural support post-Brexit, food prices, or environmental regulation.
- DebateWed, 3 Jun 2026
Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee: The draft Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026
Parliament will review proposed changes to the rules governing trade in endangered species, including amendments and revocations to existing regulations. This committee debate examines how UK wildlife protections will be updated, likely reflecting post-Brexit changes to how Britain implements international conservation agreements independently of EU frameworks.
- DebateMon, 1 Jun 2026
First Delegated Legislation Committee: The draft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2026
This committee will scrutinise draft regulations setting out how delinked payments to English farmers will be reduced from 2026 onwards. Delinked payments are subsidies no longer tied to production levels; the government is phasing them down as part of its agricultural policy reform. The committee will examine the reduction rates, transitional arrangements, and impact on farm incomes.
- Private Members' BillsFri, 29 May 2026Cancelled
Marine Protected Areas (Bottom Trawling) (England) Bill: Second Reading
This Private Members' Bill would restrict bottom trawling—a fishing method that drags heavy nets across the seabed—in marine protected areas (MPAs) around England. The bill seeks to strengthen environmental protections in designated waters by banning a practice that damages seabed habitats, fish nurseries, and marine biodiversity. It will be debated at second reading, where MPs will decide whether the principle merits further scrutiny.
- Oral evidenceTue, 19 May 2026
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Fairness in the food supply chain
A private meeting of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. The committee will discuss matters within its remit, which covers environmental policy, food systems, and rural affairs. As a private session, the specific agenda items are not publicly listed, but the committee typically scrutinises government policy on farming, land use, water, pesticides, animal welfare, and rural economic development.
- Oral evidenceTue, 19 May 2026
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee: Innovation and global food security
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee will hear oral evidence on how innovation can help secure global food supplies. The inquiry examines the role of new technologies—such as precision agriculture, plant breeding, and digital farming systems—in boosting crop yields, reducing waste, and building resilience to climate shocks. The focus is whether UK research and industry can lead in developing and exporting these solutions.
- Oral questionsThu, 7 May 2026— Environment, Food and Rural AffairsCancelled
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (including Topical Questions)
This is a scheduled question time session for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), where MPs can pose oral questions to government ministers on environmental policy, food standards, and rural affairs. The session includes topical questions allowing MPs to raise urgent, timely issues. This is a regular accountability mechanism for scrutinising the government's environmental and agricultural strategy.
- Westminster Hall debateWed, 29 Apr 2026
Government support for agriculture
This Westminster Hall debate will examine government support for agriculture, likely covering farm funding, subsidies, and rural economic policy. Richard Foord (Lib Dem MP for Honiton and Sidmouth) is raising concerns about how the Labour government is supporting the farming sector, which faces ongoing challenges around profitability, workforce, and post-Brexit trade conditions.
- Oral evidenceTue, 28 Apr 2026
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Work of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will hold an oral evidence session examining the work and performance of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and its arm's-length bodies. This is a routine parliamentary accountability exercise where MPs scrutinise how the department is delivering its policy objectives across environmental protection, farming, food systems, and rural development.
- Westminster Hall debateTue, 21 Apr 2026
Windfarm development on protected peatland
A Westminster Hall debate on windfarm development proposals on protected peatland, sponsored by Conservative MP Robbie Moore. The debate examines the tension between renewable energy expansion and environmental protection, specifically concerning whether windfarm projects should be permitted on ecologically sensitive peatland sites.
- Oral evidenceTue, 21 Apr 2026
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Fairness in the food supply chain
A private meeting of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee scheduled for April 2026. As a select committee meeting, this will likely involve scrutiny of government policy, departmental performance, or specific issues affecting the environment, farming, and rural sectors. The agenda and specific discussion topics are not publicly detailed in this notice.
- Oral evidenceTue, 14 Apr 2026
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee: Reforming the water sector
A private meeting of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee scheduled for April 2026. This is an internal committee session, likely for planning, evidence review, or discussion of upcoming inquiries into environmental policy, agricultural issues, or rural affairs without public proceedings.
- Select Committee StatementThu, 26 Mar 2026
Sixth report of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Erosion of trust: the impact of coastal erosion on communities, HC 1317
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is presenting its sixth report examining coastal erosion and its impact on affected communities. The report, titled 'Erosion of trust', investigates how coastal erosion affects residents, local economies, and public confidence in government support, with particular focus on the pressures facing coastal regions and the adequacy of current protective measures and community support.