Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat), on Monday, 13 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 16 members in total.

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Upland farmers and common land

That this House notes with concern that thousands of upland farmers in England face exclusion from future environment schemes due to the absence of a mechanism for common land to apply to the 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT); recognises that around 4,000 farming businesses with common rights may be adversely affected; further notes that limitations within the Rural Payments Service software prevent applications for commons and shared grazing; regrets the withdrawal of the MOR1 moorland survey action that helps the Landuse Framework’s ambition to make Land Digital; acknowledges the lack of interim or offline solutions and impact to farm business viability; highlights the importance of common land to nature recovery, peatland restoration and flood management; and calls on the Government to urgently deliver a workable system for commons to apply for SFI and CSHT which will also ensure sustainable food production, equitable access, fair payment, and full inclusion of commoners.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

3130 

Session

2024-26

Other sponsors

Pippa Heylings

Jim Shannon

Sarah Dyke

Lee Dillon

Clive Jones

Subjects

Common land Hill farming Environmental land management schemes

Link

View this Early day motion on edm.parliament.uk