Opening the session, NFU President Tom Bradshaw thanked the Committee members for coming, and for their crucial work on the family farm tax over the past 15 months.
A report by the Efra Committee recommended that the government pause its proposed reforms to APR (Agricultural Property Relief), and the Committee Chair Alistair Carmichael wrote to the Prime Minister backed the NFU’s call to ‘pause and consult’ on the government’s inheritance tax reforms.
What was discussed?
Speaking after Tom, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland Alistair Carmichael thanked the NFU for hosting the event. He also welcomed the opportunity for committee members to meet with representatives of all farming sectors from across the country to discuss the most pressing issues facing the farming industry.
During the session, the Efra group moved across three roundtables populated by officeholders from the NFU, NFU Cymru and the UFU (Ulster Farmers Union) as well as representatives from all NFU commodity boards and both regional uplands Chairs.
The groups discussions were framed around trade and borders, growth and investment and ELMs and delivery.
Negotiations with the EU under the spotlight
During the trade session, the group discussed the NFU’s concerns about the ongoing SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) agreement negotiations with the European Union.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw recently gave evidence to the Trade and Business Select Committee, where he warned that the UK’s world-leading advances in gene-editing technology must not be forfeited during negotiations with the EU.
Meanwhile, during the growth and investment session, attendees discussed how an increase to the AIA (annual investment allowance) would support farm businesses to deliver further economic growth and provide vital on-farm infrastructure.
Meanwhile, during the session on ELMs (Environment Land Management schemes), the group discussed the need for a comprehensive and accessible new SFI offer.
Representation from across the UK
The MP attendees represented regions from across the United Kingdom, from London, Cornwall, Somerset, Wales and the North of Scotland.
This event is just a small part of the NFU’s recent engagement with MPs, following the start of this year’s Food and Farming Fellowship scheme.
