asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the decision was taken no longer to have a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister in the House of Lords responsible for farming.

My Lords, I speak for all Defra business in this House, including farming. The decision to give me ministerial responsibility within Defra for sustainable development and environmental issues was made to maximise the benefits of working for both Defra and the new Department of Energy and Climate Change.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that response. I do not wish to question his ability; that was not the reason for tabling the Question. However, he now straddles two departments and has 15 specific responsibilities. What proportion of his time will be given to food, farming and production? How will he deal with the crisis among upland farmers, who are now faced with clawback due to the diabolical way in which the RPA handled their payments?

My Lords, the noble Baroness will know that the RPA had rather a troubled history and introduction, but overall its performance has improved. We are committed to improving its performance. I know that there are concerns about hill farmers and about the new environmental stewardship system. However, we are in very close discussion with those interests.

It is not uncommon for Ministers to have responsibilities across both departments. I will do my very best to ensure that I know as much as I can about farming. I have met the president of the NFU. As a consumer, I welcome the developments in British farming and consider that it will play a very important role in the future. I am sure that noble Lords will remind me if they think that I am neglecting farming matters.

My Lords, does the Minister recall that when we had a Minister in this House specifically responsible for farming—the noble Lord, Lord Bach—he was made the scapegoat for what happened in the RPA and was summarily sacked? Can the noble Lord reassure the House that he will not be sacked and made a scapegoat if there continue to be problems with the RPA? Has he seen yesterday's figures on farm borrowing, which show that English farmers are experiencing considerable problems? They are having to borrow extensively and at record levels because of slow payments from the RPA.

My Lords, I shall be cautious in forecasting the length of my ministerial life. That is for a higher authority. The noble Lord is right to draw attention to the problems connected with the RPA. I pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Bach for the work that he did to resolve those problems. It is a great pleasure for me to see him back as a departmental Minister. Overall, the performance of the RPA has improved hugely. However, I can assure the noble Lord that we are not complacent. We continue to monitor its performance very carefully. We are always in close discussion with the NFU about these issues and we shall continue to pay attention to that important matter.

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will be aware of the help given through the Farming Help Partnership to farmers facing hardship. Given the change of structures in ministerial provision, would he be willing, under the auspices of Defra, to arrange an opportunity for that partnership to meet Ministers, perhaps using the facilities of the Arthur Rank Centre with regard to rural issues?

My Lords, I am well aware of the difficulties that many farmers have had over the past few years and of the very grave consequences for them and their families. Equally, it is good to record that total farm income has increased considerably in the past year. We see a very positive future for British agriculture and we will do everything we can to support it.

My Lords, does the Minister realise that the undoubted success of his predecessor, the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, the consequent esteem in which he was held, and the regret that was widely expressed at his departure, came from the fact that he was tough with Defra and did not accept its nonsense? He questioned it and he managed it. There are few departments, other than probably the Home Office, that need more management than Defra. Will the Minister try to follow in those distinguished footsteps?

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Rooker is impossible to follow; he was a one-off and an absolutely brilliant Minister and colleague. I would always hope to learn from his example.

My Lords, will the Minister take back from all sides of the House the concern about the amount of his time, however superhuman he might be, that can be devoted to what is undoubtedly shortly going to be a major crisis in the uplands? Will he take back how much expertise there is in this House, which has proved invaluable in the many agricultural crises that we have had in the past 10 years, not only in providing what I hope was helpful criticism but constructive suggestions and communication from the rural communities? Could he please at least take that back, so that when the next crisis arises a better allocation of time can be given to these important matters?

My Lords, I understand the pressures on the upland farmers. That is why we are in close discussions with them and why so much work has been done with stakeholders on the proposals in relation to the introduction of the entry-level stewardship scheme in 2010, the final design of which will be announced later this year. The House has huge expertise in farming and in land issues in general, which is of inestimable value to my department. I am well placed to take back those views and concerns. The question of farming and food is of interest to everyone who lives in this nation. It is not unreasonable that from time to time the Minister responsible for food and farming should be in the other place.

My Lords, I declare an interest as a farmer and grower. I am sure that the House accepts the good intentions of the Minister and his modesty in the light of the praises that have been heaped on his predecessor. How does he propose to represent in government the great anxiety that has been caused by the European Parliament environment committee's decision on pesticides yesterday and its impact not just on farmers and growers but on future food security?

My Lords, I declare an interest as a customer of the noble Lord. I well understand the concerns about the proposed pesticide directive and the discussions in the European Parliament and in the Commission. I can reassure the House that the Government and the Secretary of State are taking a very firm view in Europe. We are raising concerns. We approve of appropriate regulation, but it needs to be proportionate and we need to see the benefits. We will continue to press that point.