Does the government have a case to answer on cash for farmers?

Published on Friday 12 October 2007 01:25

NO

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, who is alleged to have reneged on plans to grant Scottish farmers 8.5 million in compensation for the foot-and-mouth outbreak after plans for a general election were ditched

THERE is not a word of truth in the allegation that a possible election had anything to do with decisions on funding for the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Both DEFRA and the devolved administrations are always able to approach the Treasury once we know what the full picture is.

The EU has now confirmed that the export of meat can resume from [today] from Scotland, Wales and the North and South-west of England. We will continue to work with the commission to increase the areas from which exports can be made.

Working in partnership with the farming community has been an integral part of our approach to responding to this outbreak, and I have listened to the views of the industry about what further steps can be taken to alleviate very real economic and welfare pressures.

Because this outbreak has arisen from an unusual set of circumstances, I have [announced] a package of assistance for the English livestock sector, amounting to 12.5 million. The devolved administrations are proposing to introduce their own schemes.

The public sector is a major purchaser of meat, and I am asking ministerial colleagues to increase opportunities for small and local producers to tender for their business.

We are also determined to do as much as possible to reduce the burden of red tape on farmers at this difficult time.

YES

Jim McLaren, president of the National Farmers Union Scotland

THIS raises serious questions for the UK government. We have been calling on it to accept its moral responsibility to pay compensation to farmers suffering a crisis which is not of their making.

It would appear the UK government had accepted that principle, but at some point over the weekend or on Monday changed its mind. We want to know why this U-turn came about. Without the facts, people will only draw conclusions that this is linked to the decision not to call a general election. We have been trying since Monday, without success, to ascertain why no money has been forthcoming for Scotland.

It would appear a decision was taken not to use Treasury money, which Scotland has a call on, but rather use DEFRA money, which it does not. We are facing a crisis on Scotland's livestock farms. Frankly, even if 8.5 million had been forthcoming, it doesn't scratch the surface of the problem. The losses faced by the sheep industry come to at least 50 million.

It is time the UK government lived up to its responsibility, and farmers will be livid if it emerges that the UK government has been using the financial and welfare catastrophe facing farm businesses as a political football.

I am at a loss to adequately convey... the sense of outrage within the Scottish agricultural community at this dereliction of responsibility by the UK government. I welcome the fact that Hilary Benn has left the door open for future compensation to be paid once the full extent of the industries' losses has been quantified.