Horticultural Sector Committee: inquiry to hear evidence from Defra Minister Mark Spencer

• Mark Spencer MP, Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries, Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
• Tim Mordan, Deputy Director of Innovation, Productivity and Science, DEFRA
• Danny Roff, Deputy Director for Food Security and Coordination, Defra.

This evidence session, which is open to the public, will be held in Committee Room 3 of the House of Lords and streamed live on Parliament TV.

Topics likely to be covered in this session include:

• Why Defra scrapped the Horticulture Strategy for England.
• When Defra will carry out its review of fairness in the horticultural supply chain and what areas will be focussed on.
• The UK’s self-sufficiency in edible and ornamental horticultural produce.
• Government support for the horticultural sector to adapt to the new Border Target Operating Model.
• The ban on the professional use of peat in 2026.
• Impact of Biodiversity Net Gain on horticultural businesses and allotments.
• The Seasonal Workers Scheme.

More about this inquiry 

The cross-party Horticultural Sector Committee is considering the challenges, opportunities and risks faced by the horticultural sector, including the impact of rising input costs and labour and skills shortages, and how innovative technologies might address these issues and other pressing challenges such as the impact of climate change on productivity and food supply. In addition, it will explore how policy can support the sector in meeting the Government’s ambitions for levelling up and post-Brexit trade policy. It will publish its report by the end of this year.