PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Common Land (21 February 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the judgment in the judicial review brought by the Commons Committees for Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons, whether there are commensurate provisions in relation to common land in the Agriculture Bill; and what assessment he has made of the implications of that land for his policies on a future payments scheme.

Asked by:
Mr Richard Holden (Conservative)

The impacts of the Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons case and how payments are made to Commoners are being considered by Defra officials.

Commons frequently provide some of the richest opportunities for the provision of environmental public goods and are a unique part of British farming heritage.

In 2024 we will be launching the Government’s Environmental Land Management scheme. This will be cornerstone of our new agricultural policy. It will pay public money for public goods, such as those set out in the 25-year environment plan. We are working with our stakeholders including those farming on common land to design it. This includes through a programme of Tests and Trials, a recently launched Policy Discussion Document and a national pilot which will start in 2021.

Answered by:
Victoria Prentis (Conservative)
28 February 2020