Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to encourage young people to enter the farming industry. [4009]

Mr Paice; Minister of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: The most important change needed to encourage young people to enter farming is to ensure that the industry is publicly supported and recognised as important by the Government. The Government have pledged to encourage increased food production and development of our food processing sector.

In addition DEFRA supports Fresh Start, an industry-led initiative to encourage and support new entrants into farming, including those involved in family succession, and to help established farmers think about how they can develop their business in the future in the light of CAP reform.

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DEFRA also supports the industry-led Agri-Skills Strategy which aims to promote the importance of skills in making a profitable and sustainable industry fully capable of meeting the demands and challenges of agriculture in the 21st century. Increasing the profitability and professionalism of farming will make it an increasingly attractive career choice for young people.