Daniel Zeichner MP: speeches 2024

Speeches

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I thank the right hon. Member for his questions, which are serious and important, as one would expect. Let me start by pointing out that until 1992, this relief did not exist. The system has existed before and people have operated differently, although I accept it has been different for the past 30 years. Turning to the figures, I encourage people to reach for the detail—to look at the actual figures. The only thing we can go on is the claims, and the figures coming from the Treasury on claims for the last year available absolutely reflect that 73% figure. The right hon. Gentleman raises an important point about the ringfence; that point is under discussion, but I have made assurances that the devolved Administrations will be closely informed about, and involved in, what happens. These are important points, and they should be treated seriously.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  When we came to power a few months ago, the thing I was asked most strongly to do was to provide stability for the future. Through a series of interventions over the past few months, I have tried to indicate that that is exactly what we will do, whether through the environmental land management schemes or any other issues. The Government faced a huge challenge at this Budget—we all know that. Decisions had to be made. However, I am absolutely convinced that farmers and all those other people who live in rural areas want and need exactly the same decent health services, housing and transport as others do. They will be able to carry on farming, as they have done, but the difference is that that will be in a stable economic system, which means they will not suffer in the way they have over the last decade.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  No, I do not. For the reasons that I outlined earlier, I think that it will act as a disincentive for people to do that.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the rural economy is closely integrated and that one thing has an effect on another, but the thing that will be most beneficial for the rural economy is a strong economy, which we are building. We are putting the foundations in place.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I understand the point but, first, much of this can be avoided through proper planning. Secondly, Devon is one of the counties where we most often hear it said that people are coming in and buying up land for the wrong reasons.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend and near neighbour is right to pay tribute to our food producers. One thing we know for sure is that we are going to need food into the future, and farmers are essential to the future of this nation and our economy. That is why we will treat them with the utmost respect and seriousness and have a serious debate about how we transform farming. Again, while this has not been picked up much in the debate so far, the effect of this Budget is to speed up still further that transition to an environmentally friendly, nature-friendly way of farming, alongside producing the food that our country needs. That is a really important transition—I pay tribute to the current Opposition, who started that process in government, but I have been unwavering in my support for it for a number of years and I am determined to see it through to a proper conclusion. My hon. Friend is also right that we will work with everyone involved to get good, sensible outcomes, because that is what this Government are about.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman shakes his head but, if he talks to people who know about these issues, they agree with me.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I refer the hon. Lady to my earlier answer. The figures are in the Treasury papers for all to see.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  The hon. Lady is absolutely right that farming is very tough right across the country and very difficult in Wales. It is a devolved issue, so I will not comment on specific schemes in Wales, but I point her back to the Treasury figures that show the number of people who made claims for APR. It is relatively few, and I would say it is probably relatively few in Wales.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I welcome the right hon. Gentleman to his place—he will make an excellent Chair of the Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs—and thank him for the opportunity to talk about this important issue. As the Minister for Food Security, I can assure the House that food security is national security. The Government’s commitment to supporting farmers and rural communities is unwavering. We have committed £5 billion in the agricultural budget over the next two years—the biggest ever budget for sustainable food production and nature recovery in our country’s history. We are also releasing £60 million to support farmers whose farms have been devastated by severe flooding, and investing £208 million to protect the nation from potential disease outbreaks that threaten our farming industry, food security and human health. However, as we are all only too aware, the Conservatives left behind a £22 billion black hole in our nation’s finances— [ Interruption. ] Yes, you did. And this Government have had to take tough decisions on tax, welfare and spending to fix the foundations and deliver change, including a series of decisions on tax to protect the payslips of working people. That is possible only by making changes to other taxes, such as agricultural property relief, which was previously available to all agricultural property at a rate of 100%. Currently, small farms can find themselves facing the same levels of tax bills as much larger farms, despite having a much smaller asset. Twenty per cent of agricultural property relief is claimed by the top 2%; 40% is claimed by the top 7%. That is not fair, it is not sustainable, and sadly, it has been used in some cases by wealthy landowners to avoid inheritance tax. That is why the Government have announced plans to reform agricultural property relief. The Secretary of State met National Farmers Union president Tom Bradshaw this morning. We absolutely understand— [ Interruption. ]

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  There is nothing daft about putting this country’s finances on a sound footing. I say to the hon. Gentleman’s constituents, if they want a decent health service, schools and transport, this Budget will deliver that.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I do not recognise those figures. When I look at the figures that the Treasury gave for the number of claims in the last year available, that is very close to the number in the hon. Lady’s own constituency, which seems unlikely to me.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I can absolutely give my hon. Friend that assurance. As I said earlier, throughout the last five years in opposition, I was a consistent supporter of the agricultural transition, and I am determined to ensure that it is successful.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I think the hon. Lady should wait a bit longer to see transport improvements—it has only been a week. The level has been set by the Treasury based on the figures that we have, to try to make sure it is fair. As I said, the vast majority will not pay anything. I hope she will find that reassuring.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I also wish my fellow East Anglian MP, the right hon. Lady, good luck in the coming hours. The reason we can look forward to a successful and stable future for farmers across the east of England and the rest of the country is that we have absolutely committed to stability. The reason things have had to be different is that we found—I found this in my Department, just as fellow Ministers found it in their Departments—that the situation was far worse than we had been led to believe. We had to tackle that problem.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I would reassure that farmer. I am afraid that I do not think he is correct on that, and we are absolutely determined to ensure that he can hand on his farm, as others have done before, but let us ensure that he gets the proper advice.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  The right hon. Gentleman says decades. I think it was in 1991 or 1992 when the current rules were introduced. I can absolutely assure him that we are now on track for a stable future. That will allow farmers in his constituency and across England to flourish.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is absolutely right; many people in this country, and many farmers in particular, are struggling to get by. That is why it is very important that in this Budget we maintained the budget for the support schemes that people are getting used to; it is interesting to note that they are now being subscribed to in much higher numbers. That support will be available to help people to make the transition and to go on supplying food for this country, which is so important.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  The last farmer I spoke to over the weekend congratulated me on what we were doing.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  As a fellow East Anglian MP, the hon. Gentleman will know just how complicated farming is, how much it has changed over the last 30 years, and how much it is likely to change in the future. We have to ensure that farming is in the right place to benefit from the changes that we are seeing globally and nationally and, most importantly, that farming can operate in an environmentally and nature-sensitive way. Without that, we will all be in deep trouble.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  We will back British farmers, by making sure that they have a stable system in which they can flourish.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. The people of this country suffered gravely under the last Government, and we will do nothing to make their situation more difficult. In fact, this Budget protects the pay packets of the vast majority of the British people.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I am very grateful for the right hon. Gentleman’s concern, but I have to say I do not agree with him.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  I do not think it is my assessment, but that of the voters, who made it very clear.

• 4 Nov 2024 · Budget: Implications for Farming Communities · Hansard source

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  Once again, I would say that it is by having a stable, sensible approach to farming support in the coming years. Clearly in Scotland this area is devolved, and it is for the Scottish Government to determine how they operate, but we are setting the overall context, and in a stable economy in the future farmers will thrive.