My Lords, I have retabled Amendment 29 from Committee, as it could be said to reflect very well on the wide-ranging debate we had on the many challenges and opportunities faced by the rural economy as the focus changes towards providing support for production to be recognised for its environmental and welfare impacts. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, and the noble Earl, Lord Caithness, for adding their names to the amendment after tabling their amendments in Committee, and to my noble friend Lord Whitty, who has widespread experience of the sector from his excellent service as an Agriculture Minister in a previous Labour Government.
All sides of the House and all shades of opinion acknowledge that, as we move to new funding schemes, there will be a lot of new information, terminology and conditionality that farmers and land managers will need to become familiar with, all accompanied by complex administrative processes that will need to be complied with. Of course, it will be understood that there will be pilots and guidance available to participants but, given the relative speed of the transition proposed, it does not seem unreasonable to expect Defra to recognise the responsibilities it should perhaps take towards those wishing to take part in the schemes by playing a more active role in educating, clarifying, guiding, encouraging and assisting the sector.
Many pitfalls could be encountered. In Committee, discussion also covered the sometimes disproportionate punitive actions that can be taken against farmers when they act in good faith but fall short in some small regard. I was particularly struck by the words of the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, who spoke of
“the importance of allowing failure”.—[Official Report, 14/7/20; col. 1654.]
The Government are well placed to step in, whatever the circumstances, should it be necessary. They can pick up on bad experiences and eliminate misconceptions that could quickly deter applicants through social media.
Of course, it is understood that participation in schemes is voluntary. However, we would wish to see the full participation of the agricultural community to enhance our environment and to benefit businesses.
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The Minister has outlined the wide scope of the range of measures being identified as public goods across all terrains, all sectors of agriculture and all sizes and shapes of enterprise. It is imperative to recognise, and not underplay, the huge reset the Government envisage with these reforms.
Production methods with new technologies, including agroecology and agroforestry systems, have been mentioned throughout our debates. Radical solutions to sustainable production, including urban and community agriculture and more local food strategies, have also been promoted in amendments.
This amendment is about taking a positive and proactive approach to advice to farmers and land managers. The Government alone are in a position to provide a quality assurance mark to effective advice that is pertinent and constructive. That the Government could provide this element of sound advice and perspective
in agriculture is beyond dispute, as would be expected with the work that the department undertakes and the expertise it has across the sector. This has been on display in conversations that the Minister, with his officials, has conducted with all noble Lords. The Bill team is to be congratulated on its guidance.
In this regard, the Minister referred to the establishment of a working group as part of the ELMS testing process, and signalled that some of its output had already been adopted in previous policy statements. Can the Minister—the noble Baroness responding on this amendment—provide any more details on whether any substantive developments to its activity are being considered?
In Committee, discussions also included the activities of agricultural colleges and research establishments. Has the Minister considered how their expertise could be drawn on to provide specific and innovative advice, as an alternative way to engage with and disseminate important information to rural economies in the new agriculture that will need to have sustainability at its heart?
I am very grateful to all noble Lords who have come forward to debate this amendment tonight, and I look forward to all their interesting comments. I beg to move.