We are making bridging payments to farmers and land managers to ensure all those who claimed for 2016 and / or 2017 will have received at least 75% of their payment for those years by the end of September.

All eligible Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreement holders who claimed for 2016 and 2017 payments and have not yet received 75% of their claim for those years will receive a bridging payment by the end of September.

A bridging payment is an interest-free loan to customers in advance of their full year payment. Customers will receive 75% of the current estimated value of their ES revenue claim. When the full payment is processed and made, the amount paid through the bridging payment will be held back.

Where a 50% advance payment has already been made to a claimant, customers will receive a 25% top up when bridging payments are made.

Letters and emails are being sent to farmers and land managers awaiting payments this week, with a reminder to make sure bank account and contact details on the Rural Payments Service are up-to-date so that bridging payments can be made successfully.

Customers do not need to do anything to receive the payment, as Natural England will check records to identify eligible customers entitled to bridging payments.

Payment for environmental work undertaken is a government priority as set out in the Agriculture Bill published earlier this week. These payments are important to customers, and an improvement plan to the delivery of Environmental Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship payments is underway, with the Rural Payments Agency taking charge of delivery of both schemes from 1 October.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Mark Field and the Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative for Climate Change Nick Bridge are attending the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco on 13-14 September 2018. Governments, businesses and civil society have come together to discuss efforts to reduce carbon emissions and to transition to low carbon economies.

Throughout the summit, the UK has showcased a range of national and international commitments to tackle climate change, from driving the development of the zero emissions transport sector, to our support for small states and vulnerable communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The Powering Past Coal Alliance has also announced ten new members from across the US, Europe, and Australasia. Jointly initiated by the US and Canada, the coalition of 74 governments, businesses, and other organisations is committed to ending the use of unabated coal power within the timeframe of the Paris Agreement.

Minister Mark Field said:

Climate change is a global problem and one that needs to be tackled at every level, from international, to national and local governments, and with a huge role to play for businesses and individuals.

The UK is looking beyond our strong record on climate action at home. We are working across the world to help reduce emissions and create a safer, more prosperous future for all people. We also want to help UK businesses capitalise on the growing investment opportunities as countries transition to clean, low carbon economies.

Nick Bridge, the Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative for Climate Change said:

We are delighted that ten new members have this week joined our international alliance to end the use of unabated coal power. Rapidly decreasing our dependency on coal is crucial to meeting our global Paris Agreement commitments.

The UK has committed to ending unabated coal power generation by 2025 and we want to help other countries and organisations who share the same ambition.

Earlier this month, Minister Field attended the Pacific Islands Forum [3-6 September] where climate change was top of the agenda as an issue urgently facing small islands. The UK is one of the largest contributors of international climate finance and in the four years to 2020 will be giving developing countries over £5.5 billion to help them mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The visit also follows the UK-hosted international Zero Emissions Vehicle Summit [11-12 September] which brought together government and industry leaders to drive forward the development of the ultra low and zero vehicle emission market, in order to reduce emissions and improve air quality. In July, the Government set out its ambition for at least half of new cars to be ultra low emission by 2030. All new cars and vans will be effectively zero emission by 2040.

The first ever Green Great Britain Week will be held from 15 October, designed to highlight the opportunities that clean growth offers and raise awareness of how business and the public can tackle climate change.

Further information

• Liz Truss urges more businesses in the East Midlands to take advantage of global exporting opportunities

Exports from East Midlands were worth more than £20 billion in 2017, up by 10 per cent on the previous year.

And in 2018 the East Midlands has already exported more than £10.7 billion worth of goods, putting the region on track for a record-breaking year of exports.

The East Midlands is already exporting drink around the world, from Colombia to Cameroon. Visiting Global Brands drinks distribution centre which employs 330 in Chesterfield, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss said:

The East Midlands is fizzing, and quickly becoming one of the most impressive exporting regions, delivering growing export figures year after year.

We are seeing exports go up, with more people across the UK and around the world enjoying the best of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and beyond.

It’s now vital to build on that trend and ensure that UK businesses have every opportunity to increase their trade.

Trade leads to more jobs and higher wages, and the Government has launched its new exporting strategy to help more businesses get the advice and support they need, become connected to overseas buyers and gain access to insurance and finance.

The East Midlands has also received sustained investment in recent years, including more than £400 million for the strategic road network, and more than £60 million to tackle congestion and improve local transport, and £10 million for the brand-new Ilkeston Station.

And at the most recent budget the Chancellor set out plans to make the East Midlands an even more competitive area for manufacturing by:

• making the East Midlands manufacturing zone pilot to reduce planning restrictions for businesses looking to expand
• launching a £190 million national Challenge Fund to encourage faster rollout of full-fibre networks by industry, starting with a pilot in the East Midlands in early 2018.

Since 2010 unemployment has also fallen faster in the East Midlands than in London, and employment has increased by 9 per cent with 179,000 more people in employment.

The government’s Midlands Engine strategy is also supporting the East Midlands to realise its huge potential – enabling businesses to create more jobs, export more goods and services and grow their productivity through initiatives including £392 million of funding from the Local Growth Fund, and an investment of £20 million in the Midlands Skills Challenge to boost people’s employment prospects.