To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect on the UK's (a) food security and (b) environment of (i) decoupling and (ii) reduction in livestock numbers.

A market-driven and consumer focused agricultural sector is crucial for European and global food security. Removing the distortive link between direct payments and production allows farmers to respond more readily to market requirements and should therefore have a positive effect on food security.

Production data shows that while livestock numbers have fallen slightly in recent years, with decoupling of the common agricultural policy (CAP) support being a factor in this decline, both the value and volume of meat production has increased through higher yields. The effect of declining animal numbers on production will be partly offset by increases in productivity, such as higher milk yields and lower mortality. Together with productivity changes, market demand by domestic and overseas consumers will be a major contributor to the overall size of UK livestock herds.

The extent to which decoupling has led to a reduction in stocking densities has led to certain environmental outcomes, including an overall reduction in environmental pressures (such as overgrazing). There are already rural development programmes within pillar II of the CAP which are specifically designed to encourage farmers to adopt environmentally beneficial land management practices, and there are early signs that progress is being made in this area. Such targeted programmes need to be continued and strengthened with reform.