Notices of Amendments: 31 January 2019                  

15

Agriculture Bill, continued

Jeremy Corbyn

Sue Hayman

Dr David Drew

Jenny Chapman

Sandy Martin

Thangam Debbonaire

NC22

To move the following Clause—

“Financial assistance: agricultural tenancies (No.2)

(1)    

Where in respect of a tenancy of an agricultural holding a tenant is restricted by

the terms of the tenancy agreement in relation to any activity for which financial

assistance has been granted under or in connection with this Act, or any

environmental land management scheme established in connection with the

provisions of this Act, the tenant may serve notice on the landlord to request

consent for that activity.

(2)    

A landlord must respond to a notice served under subsection (1) within one

month.

(3)    

If the landlord does not respond to a notice served under subsection (1) within one

month, consent for the activity within the notice from the tenant will be deemed

to have been given.

(4)    

Any objection by the landlord to a notice served under subsection (1) may be

referred by the tenant to arbitration or expert determination under the Tribunal

Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Property Chamber) Rules 2013.

(5)    

“Financial assistance” under subsection (1) shall be taken to include (amongst

other things)—

(a)    

any payment of financial assistance under section 1,

(b)    

any payment under the basic payment scheme, within the meaning of

section 4,

(c)    

any delinked payment within the meaning of section 4 or 9 as the case

may be, and

(d)    

any other form of financial assistance which may be given under this

Act.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This new clause would enable a tenant to challenge a restriction in the tenancy agreement

regarding the receipt of financial assistance under the terms of the Bill.

Giles Watling

Sir David Amess

Ross Thomson

Geraint Davies

Dr Lisa Cameron

Charlie Elphicke

Henry Smith

Bob Blackman

NC23

To move the following Clause—

Notices of Amendments: 31 January 2019                  

16

Agriculture Bill, continued

“Prohibition on the human consumption of dogs or cats

(1)    

A person who knowingly consumes any part of a dog or a cat is guilty of an

offence.

(2)    

A person who knowingly transports, possesses or donates—

(a)    

a dog or cat to be slaughtered for human consumption; or

(b)    

part of a dog or of a cat for human consumption

is guilty of an offence.

(3)    

A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary

conviction to—

(a)    

imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or

(b)    

a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This new clause would prohibit the human consumption, transport and possession of dog and cat

meat.

Jeremy Corbyn

Sue Hayman

Dr David Drew

Jenny Chapman

Sandy Martin

Thangam Debbonaire

36

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  4,  leave out “may” and insert “must”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would require the Secretary of State to provide financial assistance for the

purposes listed in Clause 1.

Jeremy Corbyn

Sue Hayman

Dr David Drew

Jenny Chapman

Sandy Martin

Thangam Debbonaire

37

Clause  1,  page  1,  line  7,  at end insert—

“(aa)    

“supporting agriculture and horticulture businesses in enabling public

access to healthy food that is farmed sustainably, including food

produced through whole farm agroecological systems.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would add to the purposes for which financial assistance can be given, that of

ensuring access to healthy food produced sustainably including through whole farm

agroecological systems.

Notices of Amendments: 31 January 2019                  

17

Agriculture Bill, continued

Caroline Lucas

Dr Sarah Wollaston

Alex Cunningham

Tim Farron

Kerry McCarthy

11

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  1,  leave out “supporting” and insert “enhancing”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would have the effect of ensuring that financial assistance could be provided to

improve the accessibility of existing public rights of way. It would also ensure that financial

assistance could be provided for the creation of new public access opportunities where these are

most needed.

Neil Parish

Sir Hugo Swire

Fiona Bruce

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger

Scott Mann

Tim Farron

5

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  3,  after “enhances” insert “landscape quality,”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would ensure that the mechanics of the bill are aligned with the delivery of the 25

Year Environment Plan with regard to landscape enhancement. Without this amendment, cultural

and/or natural heritage enhancement could be delivered out of context, reducing the beauty of

landscapes.

Kerry McCarthy

Zac Goldsmith

Caroline Lucas

Darren Jones

Dr Sarah Wollaston

Sir Desmond Swayne

1

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  8,  at end insert—

“(h)    

establishing and maintaining whole farm agroecological systems.”

Angela Smith

9

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  8,  at end insert—

“(h)    

supporting rural development.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would provide the Secretary of State with the ability to make payments for

measures which are currently funded via the Rural Development Programme.

Notices of Amendments: 31 January 2019                  

18

Agriculture Bill, continued

Helen Goodman

Sir Nicholas Soames

Tim Farron

Richard Benyon

Ruth George

Simon Hart

Sir Patrick McLoughlin

Antoinette Sandbach

Scott Mann

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger

Angela Smith

Conor McGinn

29

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  8,  at end insert—

“(h)    

supporting upland landscapes and communities.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would provide the Secretary of State with the power to give financial assistance

for the purpose of supporting upland landscapes and communities in England.

Ruth George

Zac Goldsmith

Clive Lewis

Eleanor Smith

Diana Johnson

Liz Twist

Anne Marie Morris

Tim Farron

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger

Derek Thomas

Sir Desmond Swayne

Sir Nicholas Soames

Neil Parish

Douglas Ross

Antoinette Sandbach

49

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  8,  at end insert—

“(h)    

maintaining a network of micro-abattoirs which provide slaughtering

services for locally produced and marketed meat.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would enable the Secretary of State to provide financial assistance in relation to

micro-abattoirs.

Neil Parish

Sir Hugo Swire

Fiona Bruce

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger

Scott Mann

4

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  10,  after first “of” insert “encouraging food production, or”

Angela Smith

Tim Farron

10

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  11,  at end insert—

“(2A)    

The Secretary of State shall, within six months of this Act being given Royal

Assent, lay before Parliament a statement setting out his or her planned

expenditure under subsection (2) for—

(a)    

financial year 2019-20, and

(b)    

financial year 2020-21.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would ensure that the Secretary of State details how much expenditure is planned

for managed change and to improve farm productivity growth before the beginning of the

agricultural transition period during which cuts to the Basic Payment Scheme will occur.

Notices of Amendments: 31 January 2019                  

19

Agriculture Bill, continued

Caroline Lucas

33

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  11,  at end insert—

“(2A)    

The Secretary of State may also give financial assistance for or in connection

with—

(a)    

supporting the development of strategies to assist in the distribution of

agri-food products which are locally produced and sold by micro-

enterprises and community enterprises, or

(b)    

developing a supply chain infrastructure for the purpose of assisting in

the supply, processing and sale of agri-food products which are locally

produced and sold by micro-enterprises or community enterprises.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would give financial powers to develop local food strategies and infrastructure,

such as town markets, community supported agriculture projects, processing facilities, online

distribution hubs, local abattoirs, etc. to support small farms and/or community agricultural

businesses with the purpose of improving public access to fresh and nutritious food, improving

farm viability, reducing transport associated with agricultural products and securing our domestic

food supply.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

55

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  11,  at end insert—

“(2A)    

Financial assistance under subsections (1) and (2) may only be given to—

(a)    

persons who are involved in the production of products deriving from an

agricultural or horticultural or forestry activity, (including producer

organisations, associations of recognised producer organisations and

interbranch organisations recognised under Part 6 or under the CMO

Regulation at the date of enactment of this Act); or

(b)    

persons with an interest in agricultural land, where the financial

assistance relates directly to that land.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would ensure that financial assistance under the Bill is provided only in relation

to farmers, including those operating through POs, APOs and IBOs, agricultural/horticultural

activity and/or farmland. It would ensure that the Agriculture Act pursues agricultural/

horticultural objectives and that financial assistance is provided in a way that meets the

Government’s aims of moving away from the CAP and transforming agriculture in the UK.

Caroline Lucas

Kerry McCarthy

43

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  13,  at end insert—

“(3A)    

In giving financial assistance under this section, the Secretary of State shall

publish objectives for and further—

(a)    

the contribution of agriculture to the improvement of public health, and

(b)    

the health and welfare of livestock.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would support greater public access to food that optimises nutritional and public

health outcome as well as improved animal welfare. The mechanism for achieving this will be the

Secretary of State publishing objectives for the agriculture sector’s contribution to the

improvement of public health and to the health and welfare of livestock. The Secretary of State will

further those objectives in giving financial assistance under clause 1 of the Bill.

Notices of Amendments: 31 January 2019                  

20

Agriculture Bill, continued

Caroline Lucas

34

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  14,  at end insert—

““agri-food products” means any item of food or drink for personal

consumption where the items consist of or include, or have been

produced using (directly or indirectly, and whether or not exclusively),

the whole or part of—

(a)    

anything grown or otherwise produced in carrying on

agriculture, or

(b)    

any creature kept in carrying on agriculture, or

(c)    

any creature or other thing taken from the wild;

“community enterprises” means businesses run by a charity, social

enterprise, not-for-profit or co-operative organisation which is owned by,

endorsed by, or engaging directly with local people;”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment relates to Amendment 33 and provides definitions of agri-food products and

community enterprises as they relate to supporting local food strategies.

Caroline Lucas

Kerry McCarthy

35

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  23,  at end insert—

““locally produced and sold” means produced and offered for sale direct to

the consumer within 100 miles of the point of primary production.

“micro-enterprises” means non-subsidiary, independent businesses with

fewer than 10 employees.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment relates to Amendment 33 and provides a clear definition of “locally produced and

sold” to ensure that financial support given to support local food strategies is only provided for

local food products produced directly to consumers within 100 miles and is only available to non-

subsidiary, independent businesses with fewer than 10 employees or community agricultural

enterprises, which engage with local people.

Jeremy Corbyn

Sue Hayman

Dr David Drew

Jenny Chapman

Sandy Martin

Thangam Debbonaire

38

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  23,  at end insert—

“sustainably” means in a way which employs factors and practices that

contribute to the quality of environment on a long-term basis and avoids

the depletion of natural resources.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment defines “sustainably” for the purposes of Amendment 37.

Caroline Lucas

Kerry McCarthy

44

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  23,  at end insert—

“the improvement of public health” includes, but is not limited to,

increasing the availability, affordability, diversity, quality and marketing

of fruit, vegetables and pulses;

Notices of Amendments: 31 January 2019                  

21

Agriculture Bill, continued

“the health and welfare of livestock” includes, but is not limited to,

measures to reduce the use of farm antibiotics and related veterinary

products, and antibiotic resistance in harmful micro-organisms, through

improved animal health and improved animal welfare.

Member’s explanatory statement

See Amendment 43.

Kerry McCarthy

Zac Goldsmith

Caroline Lucas

Darren Jones

2

Clause  1,  page  2,  line  23,  at end insert—

““whole farm agroecological systems” include any whole enterprise system

for farming or land management which is designed to produce food and/

or fuel while delivering environmental and social benefits, and may

include organic farming.”

Angela Smith

Alex Cunningham

Kerry McCarthy

28

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  29,  at end insert—

“(2A)    

The conditions will include obligations to meet any regulatory standards

specified by the Secretary of State relating to environmental and land

management practices.”

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment would enshrine the Government’s commitment to a strong regulatory baseline in

the legislation. It would ensure that compliance with existing legislation and regulations is a

condition of receiving financial assistance, including compliance with landowner or occupier

obligations for public rights of way under the Highways Act 1980.

Helen Goodman

50

Clause  2,  page  2,  line  29,  at end insert—

“(2A)    

Conditions shall include the restrictions to the eligibility of a recipient of financial

assistance set out in subsections (2B) and (2C).

(2B)    

Financial assistance may only be given to individuals or groups of individuals,

natural or otherwise, operating land where the predominant use is agricultural as

defined by section 96(1) of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.

(2C)    

Financial assistance may only be made available to individuals or groups of

individuals, natural or otherwise, who are—

(a)    

in occupation of the land for which the financial assistance is being

claimed;

(b)    

taking the entrepreneurial risk for decisions made in relation to the

management of the land for which the financial assistance is being

claimed; and