Agriculture Bill gets second reading

Environment secretary Theresa Villiers brought the Agriculture Bill forward for Second Reading in the House of Commons last week.

The Bill was introduced on 16 January and will replace the European Union’s Common Agriculture Policy with a system where farmers are rewarded with public money for public goods, such as cleaner air and water or improved animal welfare standards. It is seen as a companion to the Environment Bill which is also now in Parliament.

The Agriculture Bill will go to Committee Stage next, followed by the Report Stage and Third Reading, before transferring to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.