by Jim McLaren, as chairman, in another podcast: Interviewer: lots of people who have got diversified farm businesses are really feeling that at the moment, aren't they? Jim McLaren: They certainly are. And these diversified income streams have become, you know, a major source of income to many farms, and increasingly so. So when that is... stopped it can have a real impact... it's really traumatic at the moment, isn't it... And you mentioned mental health and it's a crucial area and one that's often overlooked other than by those who are suffering from real mental health challenges. And again, the Mutual recognises that. In November 2020, following criticism in the press and campaigning, and complaints from policy holders and stakeholders, the company's conduct in deducting COVID-19 support grants from its payments triggered by COVID-19 were called into question in debate in the House of Commons with John Glen MP stating:I am aware that NFU Mutual has continued to make such deductions. As stated in my letter, these grants are intended to provide emergency support to businesses at this time of crisis, and it is the Government's firm expectation that they are not to be deducted from business interruption insurance claims... The FCA [Financial Conduct Authority] has also made it clear that it may intervene and take further actions where firms do not appear to be meeting the FCA's expectations and treating their customers fairlyThis conduct was subsequently highlighted in House of Commons Library Briefing Number 8917. Climate Change In 2020, Ethical Consumer returned a verdict on NFU Mutual in a study examining it against environmental and carbon assessment criteria, including commitments to fossil-free investing, having targets in line with international climate agreements and visible public policies that report on emissions from investments, and criticized them for "just talking about the climate impact of their offices" rather than the far more significant impact of their investments. NFU Mutual responded saying: "We avoid areas we consider harmful such as predatory lenders, certain munitions, and climate-unfriendly companies with no plans to help decarbonisation." Two years later they announced a carbon reduction strategy. Frauds In 2011, an employee of NFU Mutual insurance, Gordon Murray, was jailed for a £400,000 fraud. In 2018, Iain Wishlade, an NFU Mutual employee was also jailed for a £129,000 fraud. There have been periodic frauds on the NFUM by its policy holder members The most serious of these