Efra Committee

MPs will hold the first evidence session of this inquiry next week, scrutinising the potential impacts of proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief

The committee said it wanted to ensure it is hearing from people and organisations that are affected by Defra's responsibilities

Efra chair Alistair Carmichael accuses Defra of wanting to see an end to family farming

The Orkney & Shetland MP says he will be 'first in the queue' to let Government know if it is not doing what it should

The Committee intends to question United Utilities and South West Water in an evidence session on June 5

The Efra Committee have called on the Government to place soil health on the 'same footing' as water and air quality within Government policy

Trade industry says what is needed is a co-ordinated UK-wide approach to food and markets

The chief executive of the Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture, Stephen Jacob, said: "We need to influence the influences. If teachers and parents do not understand what the industry looks like and how food is produced, how are the children going to?"

The report recommended the Government to fund the widespread, standardised testing of soil through its Environmental Land Management schemes and to work with industry on an agreed set of metrics of soil health by next year

EFRA Committee urged the Government to commit to an annual update on UK Food Security, as well as a Food Security Summit chaired by the Prime Minister