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Agriculture Act 2020

Government Bill

Originated in the House of Commons, Session 2019-21

Act of Parliament (1)

Full text of the Act of Parliament as passed by Parliament (this is the Act in its original state. The Act may have been amended by another Act and any such amendments are not shown in this version).

Agriculture Act 2020 (c. 21)
11 November 2020

Full text of the Bill as introduced and further versions of the Bill as it is reprinted to incorporate amendments (proposals for change) made during its passage through Parliament.

HL Bill 148 Commons disagreement and amendments in lieu
4 November 2020
Lords
Bill 202 2019-21 (Lords Non-Insistence and Amendments in Lieu)
21 October 2020
Commons
HL Bill 141 Commons reasons
12 October 2020
Lords
Bill 191 2019-21 (Lords Amendments)
5 October 2020
Commons
22 September 2020
Lords
28 July 2020
Lords
18 May 2020
Lords
6 March 2020
Commons
Bill 106 2019-21, as amended in Committee - large font accessible version
6 March 2020
Commons
16 January 2020
Commons

Tracked changes versions of the Bill, showing amendments made in Committee of the whole House and in Public Bill Committees in the House of Commons. Please note that these are unofficial versions and may not be completely accurate.

Tracked changes version of the bill as amended in the Commons compared to the version as introduced
19 May 2020
Commons

Documents to explain the purpose of the Bill.

Bill 191 EN 2019-21
5 October 2020
Commons
18 May 2020
Lords
Bill 007 2019-20 EN
16 January 2020
Commons

The Government provide a delegated powers memorandum for all public (including hybrid) bills to justify the delegation of powers, usually to Ministers, in the bill. For reports of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, see “Select Committee Reports”.

Agriculture Bill: Letter from the Department
2 October 2020
Lords
Agriculture Bill: Delegated Powers Memorandum
19 May 2020
Lords
Memorandum concerning the Delegated Powers in the Agriculture Bill for the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee 15 January 2020
15 January 2020
Commons

Under the 'English votes for English laws' procedure, which applied from 23 October 2015 until it was suspended on 22 April 2020 (and finally rescinded on 13 July 2021),the Speaker certified Bills, or provisions of Bills, as relating exclusively to England, and/or to England and Wales. In relation to Finance Bills, the Speaker could certify founding financial motions, or clauses or schedules, as relating exclusively to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.The text of certificates issued by the Speaker, and information prepared by the Government on how government amendments affect the territorial application of provisions of the bill, are available here. (Similar information about the bill itself could be found in the Explanatory Notes – see above.).

Letter and Memorandum from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
6 March 2020
Commons
Speaker's Signed Certificate
31 January 2020
Commons

Full list of amendment papers relating to the Bill. Individual amendment papers will be replaced with consolidated lists before the amendments are discussed. Page and line references in amendment papers refer to the PDF version of the Bill.

HL Bill 148-I Marshalled list of Motions for Consideration of Commons disagreement and amendments in lieu
6 November 2020
Lords
HL Bill 148(a) Motions for Consideration of Commons disagreement and amendments in lieu
5 November 2020
Lords
Commons Consideration of Lords Message as at 4 November 2020
4 November 2020
Commons
Notices of CCLM Amendments as at 2 November 2020
3 November 2020
Commons
Notices of CCLM Amendments as at 30 October 2020
2 November 2020
Commons
HL Bill 141-I Marshalled list of Motions for Consideration of Commons Reasons
16 October 2020
Lords
HL Bill 141(c) Motions for Consideration of Commons Reasons
15 October 2020
Lords
HL Bill 141(b) Motions for Consideration of Commons Reasons
14 October 2020
Lords
HL Bill 141(a) Motions for Consideration of Commons Reasons
13 October 2020
Lords
Commons Consideration of Lords Amendments as at 12 October 2020
12 October 2020
Commons
Notices of CCLA Amendments as at 8 October 2020
9 October 2020
Commons
Notices of CCLA Amendments as at 7 October 2020
8 October 2020
Commons
Notices of CCLA Amendments as at 6 October 2020
7 October 2020
Commons
HL Bill 134-I Marshalled list for Third Reading
28 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130-IV Provisional Fourth marshalled list for Report
21 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130-III(Corrected) Third marshalled list for Report
17 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130-II(Rev) Revised second marshalled list for Report
15 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130-II Provisional Second marshalled list for Report
14 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130-I(Corrected) Marshalled list for Report
10 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(m) Amendments for Report
9 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(l) Amendments for Report
8 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(k) Amendments for Report
7 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(j) Amendments for Report
4 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(i) Amendments for Report
3 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(h) Amendments for Report
2 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(g) Amendment for Report
1 September 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(f) Amendments for Report
28 August 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(e) Amendments for Report
27 August 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(d) Amendments for Report
25 August 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(c) Amendments for Report
24 August 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(b) Amendment for Report
31 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 130(a) Amendments for Report
29 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-VII Seventh marshalled list for Committee
23 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-VI(Rev) Revised sixth marshalled list for Committee
21 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-VI Provisional sixth marshalled list for Committee
20 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-V Fifth marshalled list for Committee
16 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-IV(Rev) Revised fourth marshalled list for Committee
14 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-IV Provisional fourth marshalled list for Committee
13 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-III Third marshalled list for Committee
9 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-II(Rev) Revised second marshalled list for Committee
7 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-II Provisional second marshalled list for Committee
6 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112-I Marshalled list for Committee
2 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(o) Amendments for Committee
1 July 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(n) Amendments for Committee
30 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(m) Amendments for Committee
29 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(l) Amendments for Committee
26 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(k) Amendments for Committee
25 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(j) Amendments for Committee
24 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(i) Amendments for Committee
23 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(h) Amendments for Committee
22 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(g) Amendments for Committee
19 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(f) Amendments for Committee
18 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(e) Amendment for Committee
17 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(d) Amendments for Committee
16 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(c) Amendments for Committee
15 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(b) Amendments for Committee
12 June 2020
Lords
HL Bill 112(a) Amendments for Committee
11 June 2020
Lords
Consideration of Bill Amendments as at 13 May 2020
13 May 2020
Commons
Consideration of Bill Amendments as at 13 May 2020 - large font accessible version
13 May 2020
Commons
12 May 2020
Commons
11 May 2020
Commons
6 May 2020
Commons
30 April 2020
Commons
21 April 2020
Commons
26 March 2020
Commons
25 March 2020
Commons
24 March 2020
Commons
17 March 2020
Commons
16 March 2020
Commons
13 March 2020
Commons
12 March 2020
Commons
11 March 2020
Commons
10 March 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 5 March 2020
5 March 2020
Commons
4 March 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 3 March 2020
3 March 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 27 February 2020
28 February 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 27 February 2020
27 February 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 25 February 2020
26 February 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 25 February 2020
25 February 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 20 February 2020
20 February 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 13 February 2020
14 February 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 13 February 2020
13 February 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 11 February 2020
12 February 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 11 February 2020
11 February 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 7 February 2020
10 February 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 6 February 2020
7 February 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 5 February 2020
6 February 2020
Commons
Notices of Amendments as at 3 February 2020
4 February 2020
Commons

In the House of Commons, amendments are grouped together so that amendments relating to a particular topic or issue are discussed together.

Grouping of Lords Amendments by Secretary George Eustice and selection of motions relating to Lords Amendments by the Speaker
4 November 2020
Commons
Grouping of Lords Amendments by Secretary George Eustice and selection of motions relating to Lords Amendments by the Speaker
12 October 2020
Commons
Speaker’s provisional grouping and selection of Amendments - updated 13 May
13 May 2020
Commons
Provisional Grouping and Selection of Amendments
4 March 2020
Commons
Provisional Grouping and Selection of Amendments
2 March 2020
Commons
Provisional Grouping and Selection of Amendments
26 February 2020
Commons
Provisional Grouping and Selection of Amendments
24 February 2020
Commons

Details of proceedings in Public Bill Committee or Committee of the whole House, on any report (consideration) stage, and on any consideration of Lords Amendments or any subsequent Lords Messages. The documents contain the text of amendments considered at each sitting and show whether it was agreed to, negatived (not agreed), not called, not moved or withdrawn.

Proceedings on consideration of Lords Message - 4 November 2020
5 November 2020
Commons
Proceedings on Consideration of Lords Amendments as at 12 October 2020
13 October 2020
Commons
14 May 2020
Commons
All proceedings up to 5 March 2020 at Public Bill Committee Stage
6 March 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Proceedings as at 5 March 2020
6 March 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Proceedings as at 3 March 2020
4 March 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Proceedings as at 27 February 2020
28 February 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Proceedings as at 25 February 2020
26 February 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Proceedings as at 13 February 2020
14 February 2020
Commons
Public Bill Committee Proceedings as at 11 February 2020
12 February 2020
Commons

House of Commons Library and House of Lords Library briefing papers aim to be politically impartial, containing factual information as well as a range of opinions on each subject. Briefing papers on Bills are produced before Second Reading and, in the Commons, after Committee Stage.

Briefing paper on the Bill
2 November 2020
Commons
Briefing Paper on the Bill
10 October 2020
Commons

The following select committee reports have been identified as relevant to the debate on the Bill.

8th Report of the Select Committee on the Constitution
23 June 2020
Lords

Archive of press notices related to the Bill.

Have your say on the Agriculture Bill
4 February 2020
Commons

House of Lords Library Notes aim to be politically impartial and are compiled for Members of Parliament and their staff.

Agriculture Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages
22 May 2020
Lords

Written submissions from outside bodies and individuals are circulated to MPs appointed to examine the Bill during committee stage in a Public Bill Committee. The following written submissions were sent to this committee.

Commons Committee stage

Written Evidence: Mayor of London (AB67)
6 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: WWF-UK (AB66)
6 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Robert Evans, Visiting Fellow, Global Sustainability Institute, Anglia Ruskin University (AB68)
6 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Key stakeholders on Dartmoor (Dartmoor Hill Pony) further submission (AB69)
6 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Mayor's Fund for London (AB70)
6 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: British Poultry Council (AB63)
5 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Paul Gingell (AB64)
5 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: British Veterinary Association (AB65)
5 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The Food Foundation (AB53)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Essex Local Access Forum (AB54)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Northern Ireland Environment Link (AB55)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Feeding Britain (AB56)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) (AB57)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The British Horse Society (AB58)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Independent Food Aid Network (AB59)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Soil surveyors - Former members of the Soil Survey of England and Wales and Soil Survey and Land Research Centre (AB60)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru (AB61)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (AB62)
3 March 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Prof. Nigel Maxted (University of Birmingham) and Julian Hosking (Member of UK PGR Group and former member of UK FAnGR Committee) (AB48)
27 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Greener UK/Wildlife and Countryside Link further submission (AB49)
27 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The National Trust (AB50)
27 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Tessa Burrington (AB51)
27 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The Wildlife Trusts (AB52)
27 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Shaun Leavey OBE FRAgS (AB23)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: British Canoeing (AB24)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Tenant Farmers Association (AB25)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The Ramblers (AB26)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Richard Bruce (AB27)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: British Mountaineering Council (AB28)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Horse Access Campaign UK (HAC UK) (AB29)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Friends of the Earth England Wales and Northern Ireland (AB30)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Sally Crone, Committee Member of Essex Bridleways Association (AB31)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) (AB32)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Byways and Bridleways Trust (AB33)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The Fairtrade Foundation (AB34)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Essex Bridleways Association (AB35)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: NFU (AB36)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Agricultural Christian Fellowship (AB37)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Greener UK/Wildlife and Countryside Link (AB38)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: RSPB (AB39(A))
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Clean Air in London (AB40)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (AB41)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Landworkers’ Alliance (AB42)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The Humane League UK (AB43)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Cycling UK (AB44)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Farmers' Union of Wales (AB45)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Crop Protection Association (AB46)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: UK Pesticides Campaign (AB47)
25 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: RSPB supplementary (AB39(B))
25 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence: Arla Foods UK (AB14)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence: Anglian Water Services Ltd (AB15)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence: Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) (AB16)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence: RSPCA (AB17)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence: Scottish Land & Estates (AB18)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence: Sustain (AB19)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence: Myra Bennett, British Horse Society County Access Officer, Wiltshire (AB20)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence: Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London (AB21)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written evidence : Dairy UK (AB22)
17 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Key stakeholders on Dartmoor (Dartmoor Hill Pony) (AB01)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) (AB02)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Compassion in World Farming (AB03)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFU Scotland) (AB04)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) (AB05)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Sustainable Food Trust (AB06)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The Law Society of Scotland (AB07)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: National Pig Association (AB08)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: NOAH (AB10)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Nature Friendly Farming Network (AB09)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: The Trails Trust (AB11)
12 February 2020
Commons
Written Evidence: Mid & West Berks Local Access Forum (AB12)
12 February 2020
Commons

List of related Impact Assessments

Impact Assessment from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4 November 2020

Occasionally questions put to government Ministers during debates on Bills in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords may be answered by the Minister saying 'I will write to the Hon Member'. Such “will write” replies are not published in Hansard but are placed in the Library of the House concerned and published on the Parliamentary website.

Letter from Baroness Williams of Trafford to Baroness Lister of Burtersett regarding the Minimum Income Requirement and how the current level was arrived at
6 October 2020
Letter from Lord Gardiner of Kimble to Baroness McIntosh of Pickering regarding the registration of common land and the Farming Recovery Fund, as discussed during the Report Stage of the Agriculture Bill
6 October 2020
Letter dated from Lord Gardiner to Members regarding issues raised in the Bill committee stage (day one): development of the Green Belt, and soil and environmental outcomes
12 August 2020
Letter from Lord Gardiner regarding issues raised in the committee stage (day two): Forestry Commission land, countryside education, Fire Severity Index and fires, littering and fly-tipping, and national soil survey
12 August 2020
Letter from Lord Gardiner of Kimble regarding issues raised in the committee stage (day three): regulatory interventions during the COVID-19 outbreak, and obesity, public health and healthy food
12 August 2020
Letter from Lord Gardiner of Kimble regarding issues raised in the committee stage (day 4): fair dealing obligations, workings of clause 27, and data collection
12 August 2020
Letter from Lord Gardiner of Kimble to Members regarding issues raised in the Agriculture Bill committee stage (day 5): support for common land, and capacity of storage facilities and the food security report.
12 August 2020
Letter from Lord Gardiner of Kimble to Members regarding issues raised in the Agriculture Bill committee stage (day 6): regulation and enforcement, marketing standards (wine imports), and mutual recognition of marketing standards.
12 August 2020
Letter from Lord Gardiner of Kimble to Members regarding issues raised in the Agriculture Bill committee stage (day 7): trade and World Trade Organisation (WTO) law, and commencement of statutory instruments.
12 August 2020
Letter from Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park to Baroness McIntosh regarding environmental benefits and rewarding farmers for public good and the regulation of small raised reservoirs (SRRs), as discussed during the Committee Stage
2 July 2020
Letter from Lord Gardiner of Kimble to Members regarding issues raised in the second reading
29 June 2020

Full transcripts

Commons Committee stage

Committee Debates: compilation pdf of sitting so far
9 March 2020
Commons
6 March 2020
Commons
6 March 2020
Commons
4 March 2020
Commons
4 March 2020
Commons
28 February 2020
Commons
28 February 2020
Commons
26 February 2020
Commons
26 February 2020
Commons
14 February 2020
Commons
14 February 2020
Commons
12 February 2020
Commons
12 February 2020
Commons

Commons 2nd reading

3 February 2020
Commons

Commons Programme motion

Programme motion
3 February 2020
Commons

Commons Money resolution

Money resolution
3 February 2020
Commons

Commons Report stage

13 May 2020
Commons

Commons 3rd reading

13 May 2020
Commons

Lords 1st reading

1st reading (Hansard)
18 May 2020
Lords
1st reading (Minutes of Proceedings)
18 May 2020
Lords

Lords 2nd reading

2nd reading (Hansard)
10 June 2020
Lords
2nd reading (Minutes of Proceedings)
10 June 2020
Lords

Lords Committee stage

Committee: 7th sitting (Hansard)
28 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 7th sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
28 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 6th sitting (Hansard)
23 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 6th sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
23 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 5th sitting (Hansard)
21 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 5th sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
21 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 4th sitting (Hansard)
16 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 4th sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
16 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 3rd sitting (Hansard)
14 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 3rd sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
14 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 2nd sitting (Hansard)
9 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 2nd sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
9 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 1st sitting (Hansarad)
7 July 2020
Lords
Committee: 1st sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
7 July 2020
Lords

Lords Report stage

Report: 3rd sitting (Hansard)
22 September 2020
Lords
Report: 3rd sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
22 September 2020
Lords
Report: 2nd sitting (Hansard)
17 September 2020
Lords
Report: 2nd sitting (Minutes of Proceedings)
17 September 2020
Lords
Report: 1st sitting
15 September 2020
Lords
Report stage (Minutes of Proceedings)
15 September 2020
Lords

Lords 3rd reading

3rd reading (Hansard)
1 October 2020
Lords
3rd reading (Minutes of Proceedings)
1 October 2020
Lords

Commons Consideration of Lords amendments

12 October 2020
Commons

Lords Consideration of Commons amendments

Ping Pong (Hansard)
20 October 2020
Lords
Ping Pong (Minutes of Proceedings)
20 October 2020
Lords

Commons Consideration of Lords amendments

4 November 2020
Commons

Lords Consideration of Commons amendments

Ping Pong (Hansard)
9 November 2020
Lords
Ping Pong (Minutes of Proceedings)
9 November 2020
Lords

Royal Assent

Royal Assent (Hansard)
11 November 2020
Royal Assent (Minutes of Proceedings)
11 November 2020