I have called on the Government to expand protection for agricultural land to prevent it being used for solar farms.

Gainsborough is threatened by a proposal for 10,000 acres of solar panels, more than the rest of the East Midlands combined.

There is a presumption against such energy parks being built on Grade 1, 2, and 3a agricultural land. The Government needs to expand that presumption to include Grade 3b.

Amidst the food crisis sparked by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, it is senseless to take good farmland out of agricultural use.

In reality there is no great material difference between Grade 3a and 3b land in terms of growing wheat and barley.