The chief executive of H&H Group has said it is up to firms like his to lobby the Government about what agriculture needs, after promises of stability formed part of today's Queen's Speech.

Brian Richardson made the comments in response to a commitment to the Agriculture Bill, designed to deliver on the Conservatives' manifesto pledge to provide stability to farmers as the UK leaves the EU and to protect the natural environment.

He also has concerns that the announced Draft Tenants' Fees Bill might also affect the rented property market.

"The devil is always in the detail and what they come up with,"Mr Richardson said, on the agriculture legislation.

"It is upon the farming organisations and groups like ourselves to tell Government what agriculture does to the economy."

The tenants' legislation will ban landlords and agents charging "letting fees" or any payments as a condition of tenancy other than rent, cap refundable security deposits at no more than one month's rent, holding deposits at no more than one week's rent and tenant default fees.

Mr Richardson said this was being done mainly to tackle issues in the south east and London areas.

"The Government just need to be careful, they want to encourage rented housing," he added.

H&H's portfolio covers a broad range of business areas.

It was originally set up as a firm of farmstock auctioneers.

The group now operates as a holding company with seven operating companies encompassing livestock, machinery and vehicle auctioneers, brokers and valuers, auction rooms, commercial printers, chartered surveyors, insurance brokers and estate agents.

It employs about 300 people, most of whom are based in Cumbria.