Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, has tabled a series of written parliamentary questions to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), calling for urgent action to support British farmers amid mounting economic pressures and administrative delays.
In a question tabled on 15 October 2025, Julian asked the Secretary of State what assessment had been made of the implications of reductions in the prices paid to British dairy farmers by suppliers. This question reflects growing concern among dairy producers in North Yorkshire and beyond, who are facing unsustainable price cuts despite rising production costs. In response, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP, said that “prices in the dairy sector are influenced by a wide range of factors, including global market trends, input costs and consumer demand”. She also said that “the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 are designed to bring greater transparency and fairness to contractual relationships between farmers and milk purchasers”, with “a statutory review to assess their effectiveness”.
On 10 October, Julian tabled a question asking what steps Defra is taking to help expedite grant clearance under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which is now closed to new applicants. The Minister responded that the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) had “used an online application system to streamline data collection”, and “is using automation to simplify due diligence checks”. She also stated that “the RPA aims to process and pay complete claims within 60 working days”, and encouraged recipients to claim their payments by 31 March 2026.
In another question tabled on 10 October, Julian asked whether the Department had assessed the impact of delays in processing applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive and productivity grants. These schemes are vital for helping farmers transition to more sustainable practices and invest in modern equipment. However, delays in administration are reportedly causing uncertainty and financial strain for applicants. In response, the Minister said that “Defra and the RPA understand the importance of cashflow for farmers”, and that “the schemes continue to be administered with payment frequency in mind”, including quarterly payments under the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
On 16 September, Julian asked what assessment the Secretary of State had made of the effectiveness of agricultural funding schemes and how they can support food production. In response, the Minister stated that the Government “have allocated £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament”, and is “delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers”. She also said that the Government “provides grants to support industry-led R&D” as part of the Farming Innovation Programme. The Minister pointed to other measures as well, stating that the Government “have protected farmers in trade deals and provided a five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker route”, was aiming “for half of food supplied into the public sector the be produced locally or certified to high environmental standards”, and was “reforming planning to support clean energy projects”.
Finally, also on 16 September, Julian asked what support is being provided to tenant stock-rearing farmers facing rising costs of feed, energy, and national insurance. In response, the Government outlined its New Deal for Farmers, stating that it has “allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament”. The Minister also replied that the Government has sought to “protect the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500”. Regarding energy bills, she highlighted that “non-domestic consumers with contracts agreed at higher prices may benefit from approaches such as ‘blend and extend’ contracts”, whilst also promoting the Government’s overall approach to energy.
Speaking about his recent parliamentary activity, Julian said, “Farmers in Skipton and Ripon are facing a storm of falling prices, rising costs, and administrative delays. These are not abstract policy issues, they are real problems affecting livelihoods, food security, and the future of our rural economy. I am urging the Government to listen to farmers, act swiftly, and ensure that support schemes are not only well-funded but also well-managed.”
You can read all of Sir Julian's written questions, and the Government's answers, here.
