Efra committee seeks farmers’ views on priorities for 2025
© Adobe Stock The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee has launched an industry-wide survey to determine which key issues its MPs should look into and scrutinise next year.
A short online survey has been created covering unresolved policy challenges, current, and longer-term issues related to the Defra administration.
The survey can be completed by any stakeholders impacted by Defra farming and rural policy and will remain open until Monday 25 November.
See also: Farmers plan second ‘anti-Budget’ rally in London for 19 November
It is designed to inform MPs within the select committee and help shape how the committee operates throughout the next five years.
Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael was elected as chairman of the newly appointed Efra committee in September and has already outlined investigating government spending on agriculture as its top priority.
Mr Carmichael said: “I will ensure that the committee gives a voice to rural, coastal and island communities, and fully considers the interests of our fishers, farmers, food producers, processors and exporters, while holding corporate interests such as water companies to account.”
The remainder of the committee was formally appointed on 29 October, including former National Pig Association chief policy adviser and Conservative MP Charlie Dewhirst and Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke.
The committee also includes:
- Sarah Bool MP (Conservative)
- Helena Dollimore MP (Labour)
- Jayne Kirkham MP (Labour)
- Josh Newbury MP (Labour)
- Andrew Pakes MP (Labour)
- Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP (Labour)
- Tim Roca MP (Labour)
- Henry Tufnell MP (Labour).