Moved by
Baroness Young of Old Scone
227: After Clause 34, insert the following new Clause—
“Land use strategy for England
(1) The Secretary of State must, no later than 31 March 2022, lay an agricultural land use strategy for England before Parliament.
(2) The strategy must set out—
(a) the Secretary of State’s objectives in relation to sustainable agricultural land use within an integrated land use framework;
(b) proposals and policies for meeting those objectives;
(c) the timescales over which those proposals and policies are expected to take effect.
(3) The objectives, proposals and policies referred to in subsection (2) must contribute to—
(a) achievement of the purposes for financial assistance under section 1(1) and 1(2);
(b) achievement of objectives in relation to mitigation and adaptation to climate change, including achieving carbon budgets under Part 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008;
(c) sustainable development including the use of previously agricultural land for development and infrastructure;
(d) the achievement of objectives of the 25 Year Environment Plan for halting the decline of biodiversity.
(4) Before laying the strategy before Parliament, the Secretary of State must publish a draft strategy and consult with—
(a) such bodies as he or she considers appropriate, and
(b) the general public.
(5) The Secretary of State must, no later than—
(a) 5 years after laying a strategy before Parliament under subsection (1), and
(b) the end of every subsequent period of 5 years,
lay a revised strategy before Parliament under the terms set out in subsections (2) to (4).
(6) The Secretary of State must, no later than 3 years after the laying of a strategy before Parliament under this section, lay before Parliament a report on the implementation of the strategy and progress in achieving the objectives, proposals and policies under subsection (2).”
Member’s explanatory statement
This new Clause would provide a land use context to enable the Secretary of State to make optimal decisions about the balance of financial assistance to the various purposes in Clause 1.