We are living through an unprecedented crisis that disrupts and challenges in nearly every aspect of our residents’ lives, be it social, economic, in health or environment. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of the availability of local, good quality food. Cambridgeshire and the Fens are home to more than 50% of UK’s Grade 1 and 2 Agricultural land. British farmers are proud to produce food to some of the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety in the world. More than a million people signed the recent food standards campaign petition. Yet, the Agriculture Act 2020 still risks putting our farmers in an untenable situation whereby they will have to compete with food imports that have been produced using methods and products that would be illegal on British farms, leading to the sale of substandard food.
The Back British Farming campaign sought to uphold and defend British food and farming standards through primary legislation but House of Lords amendments upholding this aim have been voted down by majorities in the House of Commons, including our own local MPs. As a far less robust concession to campaigners, the Government has placed the Trade and Agriculture Commission on a statutory footing, though without statutory powers. It is welcome news that MPs will have the chance to vote on the recommendation of the Commission in relation to any new trade deal but this alone does not give the strength of guarantee deserved of our farmers or our food security – and leaves British farming vulnerable to political convenience.
This Council
- believes that guarantees to uphold British food and farming standards should be written into primary legislation
- authorises the Leader to contact our local MPs to underline the importance of having food and farming standards written into primary legislation.
Decision:
Council agreed the following motion:
We are living through an unprecedented crisis that disrupts and challenges in nearly every aspect of our residents’ lives, be it social, economic, in health or environment. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of the availability of local, good quality food. Cambridgeshire and the Fens are home to more than 50% of UK’s Grade 1, 2 and 3a Agricultural land. British farmers are proud to produce food to some of the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety in the world. More than a million people signed the recent food standards campaign petition. Yet, the Agriculture Act 2020 still risks putting our farmers in an untenable situation whereby they will have to compete with food imports that have been produced using methods and products that would be illegal on British farms, leading to the sale of substandard food.
The Back British Farming campaign sought to uphold and defend British food and farming standards through primary legislation but House of Lords amendments upholding this aim have been voted down by majorities in the House of Commons, including our own local MPs. As a far less robust concession to campaigners, the Government has placed the Trade and Agriculture Commission on a statutory footing, though without statutory powers. It is welcome news that MPs will have the chance to vote on the recommendation of the Commission in relation to any new trade deal but this alone does not give the strength of guarantee deserved of our farmers or our food security – and leaves British farming vulnerable to political convenience.
This Council
- believes that guarantees to uphold British food and farming standards should be written into primary legislation
- authorises the Leader to contact our local MPs to underline the importance of having food and farming standards written into primary legislation.
Minutes:
Councillor Pippa Heylings proposed the following motion, as laid out in the agenda:
“We are living through an unprecedented crisis that disrupts and challenges in nearly every aspect of our residents’ lives, be it social, economic, in health or environment. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of the availability of local, good quality food. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of the availability of local, good quality food. Cambridgeshire and the Fens are home to more than 50% of UK’s Grade 1 and 2 Agricultural land. British farmers are proud to produce food to some of the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety in the world. More than a million people signed the recent food standards campaign petition. Yet, the Agriculture Act 2020 still risks putting our farmers in an untenable situation whereby they will have to compete with food imports that have been produced using methods and products that would be illegal on British farms, leading to the sale of substandard food.
“The Back British Farming campaign sought to uphold and defend British food and farming standards through primary legislation but House of Lords amendments upholding this aim have been voted down by majorities in the House of Commons, including our own local MPs. As a far less robust concession to campaigners, the Government has placed the Trade and Agriculture Commission on a statutory footing, though without statutory powers. It is welcome news that MPs will have the chance to vote on the recommendation of the Commission in relation to any new trade deal but this alone does not give the strength of guarantee deserved of our farmers or our food security – and leaves British farming vulnerable to political convenience.
“This Council
- believes that guarantees to uphold British food and farming standards should be written into primary legislation
- authorises the Leader to contact our local MPs to underline the importance of having food and farming standards written into primary legislation.”
Councillor Pippa Heylings explained that she had accepted an amendment proposed by Councillor Nick Wright to include a reference to 3a agricultural land, so that the fourth sentence of the first paragraph reads “Cambridgeshire and the Fens are home to more than 50% of UK’s Grade 1, 2 and 3a Agricultural land.” Councillor Peter McDonald seconded the motion.
Councillor Nigel Cathcart expressed his support for the motion, as it would protect farming in the longer term and it was more sustainable to ensure lower food miles. The motion would also benefit consumers by allowing them to purchase produce directly from farms.
Councillor Nick Wright supported the motion and thanked Councillor Heylings for accepting his proposed amendment, as the majority of the farming land in the District was designated 3a. He asserted that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) had restricted farming and its removal provided an opportunity. He reminded Council that he had declared an interest in this item and so would abstain on the vote.
Councillor Graham Cone expressed his support for the motion, as it was important that the farming industry competed on a level playing field with other nations.
Councillor Peter McDonald declared an interest as he carried out work within the agricultural industry.
Councillor Pippa Heylings stated that the Council should ask the District’s MPs to support enshrining food standards in law as part of the trade bill going through Parliament.
A vote was taken and by affirmation Council agreed the following motion:
We are living through an unprecedented crisis that disrupts and challenges in nearly every aspect of our residents’ lives, be it social, economic, in health or environment. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of the availability of local, good quality food. Cambridgeshire and the Fens are home to more than 50% of UK’s Grade 1, 2 and 3a Agricultural land. British farmers are proud to produce food to some of the highest standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety in the world. More than a million people signed the recent food standards campaign petition. Yet, the Agriculture Act 2020 still risks putting our farmers in an untenable situation whereby they will have to compete with food imports that have been produced using methods and products that would be illegal on British farms, leading to the sale of substandard food.
The Back British Farming campaign sought to uphold and defend British food and farming standards through primary legislation but House of Lords amendments upholding this aim have been voted down by majorities in the House of Commons, including our own local MPs. As a far less robust concession to campaigners, the Government has placed the Trade and Agriculture Commission on a statutory footing, though without statutory powers. It is welcome news that MPs will have the chance to vote on the recommendation of the Commission in relation to any new trade deal but this alone does not give the strength of guarantee deserved of our farmers or our food security – and leaves British farming vulnerable to political convenience.
This Council
- believes that guarantees to uphold British food and farming standards should be written into primary legislation
- authorises the Leader to contact our local MPs to underline the importance of having food and farming standards written into primary legislation.