The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 29th April 2024:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:
- when they will publish further information on the combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer.
- when farmers will be able to apply for the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer.
- when guidance for the Sustainable Farming Incentive online application portal will be set out.
- when farmers in existing Higher Level Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements can transfer to the new offer.
- when the new Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship actions can be added to areas already in the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement, particularly in upland areas where the HLS agreement has a linked Upland Entry Level Stewardship agreement.
Lord Douglas-Miller (Con, DEFRA): We plan to roll out the new combined Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship offer during 2024, with applications opening from the summer. We will publish more information about this, and how farmers will be able to apply, ahead of applications opening. This will include setting out how farmers with existing Higher Level Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements will be able to access the new offer.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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