The Bishop of Hereford tabled a question on ensuring that agricultural policies improve the profitability and long-term viability of small farming enterprises on 1st December 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Hereford: To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that agricultural policies improve the profitability and long-term viability of small farming enterprises.
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The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 1st September 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln asked His Majesty’s Government when they will announce details of the eligibility criteria and timeline for introducing a new Sustainable Farming Incentive offer.
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The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 22nd May 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support farmers in the light of dry conditions this spring.
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab, DEFRA): The UK has a resilient food supply chain that has frequently demonstrated its ability to adapt when required.
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The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on the impact of inheritance tax on farmers and rural businesses on 1st May 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, there is no doubt that there is some sort of mismatch between the assurances being given and the experiences of some of our smaller farmers, who are deeply concerned at what is going on. What consideration have His Majesty’s Government given to having some sort of clawback clause? If assets were disposed of within, say, seven years after a death, that would deal with the problem of the tax loophole whereby some people are using land simply to get out of paying tax.
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The Bishop of Hereford spoke in a debate on the effects of the government’s economic measures on farming and rural communities on 3rd April 2025, noting the current low morale among farmers and urging the government to listen to their concerns:
The Lord Bishop of Hereford: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Roborough, for introducing this important debate. I speak as the Bishop of the most rural diocese in the Church of England.
Agriculture provides significant employment and is extremely diverse, from substantial agribusinesses to small family farms, and from large arable enterprises to small livestock hill farms. Prior to ordination, I worked as an agronomist, advising farmers on all aspects of crop production, translating scientific research into the practical solutions commended by the noble Lord, Lord Carrington. I have the privilege this year of being president of the Three Counties Show at Malvern, an event I warmly commend to noble Lords as a splendid day out.
However, over 40 years of involvement in the sector, I can honestly say that I have never seen morale so low nor such disillusionment with the Government’s capacity to understand and respond to the needs of the agricultural industry. A thriving agri-farming industry is essential to the wider health of the rural economy. Family farms are at the heart of this ecology. The inevitable consolidation of units that will ensue from proposed changes in APR and BPR will have huge knock-on effects on support industries, lead to rural depopulation and undermine the viability of many local services and businesses.
Continue reading “Bishop of Hereford raises issue of morale among farmers and those in rural communities”The Bishop of St Albans spoke in a debate on the effects of the government’s economic measures on farming and rural communities on 3rd April 2025, raising the potential of the rural economy and the need for strategic policy towards rural affairs:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I too am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Roborough, for securing this debate and for his excellent opening speech. I declare my interests as president of the Rural Coalition and a vice-president of the Local Government Association.
I have already spoken in your Lordships’ House on changes to the agricultural property relief and business property relief, so my views are already recorded in Hansard. I lament the sudden closure of the sustainable farming incentive, and the reforms to compulsory purchase in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
If your Lordships’ House will indulge me, I want to focus on two associated areas which are pertinent to this whole debate. First, the rural economy has great potential to contribute to the economic growth that is needed. I think we all believe in this; it is just a matter of how we achieve it. Secondly, I will make a few comments about the almost complete lack of strategic rural policy or effective rural-proofing in government decision-making.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans emphasises potential of the rural economy and need for strategic thinking in rural affairs”The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 1st April 2025:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the end of the Farming Resilience Fund on farmers’ mental health.
Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about impact of the ending of the farmers’ resilient fund”The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 31st March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support and incentivise farmers in England to register in environmental land management schemes.
Continue reading “Bishop of Lincoln asks about support for farmers to register for land management schemes”The Bishop of Lincoln received the following written answer on 28th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support farmers to manage land for both food and nature following the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
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The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on the effects of the government’s sustainable farming initiative on food security on 18th March 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I do not know whether I have an interest to declare. I am not a farmer but the Church Commissioners, who pay my stipend and working costs, are one of the largest landowners of tenanted farms in the UK, so I declare that.
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