Robbie Moore MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), visited Rutland to discuss Government support following recent flooding.
The Minister, whose area of responsibility includes floods and water, attended a Flooding Summit organised by Alicia Kearns MP with local farmers and landowners.
The Minister assured Rutland farmers and landowners that the Government is currently reviewing the best mechanism for Government support during volatile weather, such as the unprecedented rainfall seen during Storm Babet and Storm Henk. The Farming Recovery Fund is under review and the Government is working to ensure the fund supports those who most urgently need support and is more focused on agricultural land.
Ahead of upcoming Government announcements in the Farm to Fork Summit held at Downing Street next week (14 May), the Minister also highlighted the £75 million package announced in the Spring Budget for internal drainage boards to protect farms from future floods.
Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton, said:
“Following the unprecedented flooding episodes we have experienced locally, I invited the Flooding Minister to Rutland to discuss the Government support our farmers and landowners need.
“We had productive discussions about the detrimental impact of flooding on farmers livelihoods and the work the Government is doing to review the current funding framework to ensure we have the support in place to mitigate and respond to future flood events."
