To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress his Department is making on its update of the Rural Land Register.

In updating the Rural Land Register the Rural Payments Agency has sent map packs to some 97,000 or 85 per cent. of farmers in England with the remainder being sent over the next few weeks.

Response rates from farmers are in line with expectations and more than 55,000 farmers have to date either confirmed acceptance or made changes.

RPA is encouraging farmers to reply as soon as possible and ideally within a 28 day timescale. To this end, the agency is running seminars and is attending more than 90 locations at auction markets in order to supply face-to-face advice and support.