FARM SUBSIDIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

That this House notes with concern the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' recent comments that subsidy for farmers should be removed by 2020, except when involved in energy crops and environmental protection; further notes that such comments have effect beyond his Government's term of office; recognises that for centuries the farming industry has been the steward of the natural environment, with the Common Agricultural Policy often being detrimental to this; and asks the Secretary of State to free farming from over-burdensome regulation to ensure competitiveness and focus subsidies on keeping food production local, where by its proximity to the consumer it will be more environmentally sound.