Farming groups urge Ministers to boost rural business

Farming groups have informed Ministers how they can provide a much needed boost to the rural economy as part of its ‘first 100 days’ as a majority Government.

The organisation, which represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses, is urging Ministers and MPs to take decisive action on rural broadband and reforming how land is acquired for major infrastructure projects. The CLA is pressing Ministers to act through the legislative programme to be announced in the Queens Speech on 27 May and the Budget Statement on 8 July.

CLA President Henry Robinson said: “The Conservative election campaign set expectations for action during the ‘first 100 days’ of Government and rural businesses will be looking for them to deliver. We are calling for Government to deliver on three immediate priorities.

A Universal Service Obligation for Broadband

“Too many people living and working in the countryside still suffer from poor or non-existent broadband connection. It is time for Ministers to impose a Universal Service Obligation of at least 10 megabits per second on network providers for all rural homes and businesses. Ministers must end the competitive disadvantage faced by rural businesses.

A Compulsory Purchase Regime that delivers Major Infrastructure and is Fair to Home-owners and Landowners

“We have seen good progress in the past year towards much-needed reform of the out-dated compulsory purchase system for major infrastructure projects. It is now time to deliver and end the terrible uncertainty and years of business stagnation that rural firms and families currently suffer. Any policy or project announcements related to infrastructure like HS2 must have a commitment to compulsory purchase reform at their heart.”

End Discrimination Against Unincorporated Family Businesses

“As the Chancellor plans to bring forward a law to guarantee no increases in income tax, national insurance and VAT, he must not forget the discrimination faced by family businesses that have not benefitted from corporation tax cuts. He must work with us to identify incentives through income and property tax reliefs that promote growth amongst these vital entrepreneurial enterprises.”

Burdensome Regulation

NFU President Meurig Raymond, who hosted an event at the House of Lords, said it is crucial that everyone works together to halt the alarming decline in the nation’s self-sufficiency.

However, Mr Raymond said that despite the Government’s detailed and positive growth agenda, there is still work to be done to address key issues such as burdensome regulation and the need for the Groceries Code Adjudicator’s powers to be extended.

“This new Government comes to power with a detailed and positive agenda for agriculture. There is a welcome match in areas like investing for growth, securing access to knowledge and technology, enhancing farmers’ ability to tackle animal and plant health, building safe and secure food chains and protecting key environmental assets.

“Their goals for farming are ambitious - British farming with plans to grow more, buy more and sell more British food at home and abroad. The NFU and the farming industry share this ambition, to reverse long- term declines in farming productivity and the nation’s self-sufficiency.

“Like the Government, the NFU believes in a science-led approach to policy decisions. For example, access to new biotechnology, GM crops and pesticides will ensure farmers have the tools to produce more food with less impact on the environment. Likewise, science should also guide the management of animal disease, such as bovine TB. Urgent implementation of the TB Eradication Strategy is a top priority.

“Regulation, impractical or poorly drafted, remains a major block to growing competitiveness for most farm businesses. The proposal for a single ‘Farm Inspectorate’ could be a move in the right direction as is implementing earned recognition for Red Tractor assured farms.

“Cross party manifestos recognised that the food chain must be fairer and more transparent in its dealings with producers. We need to extend the grocery supply code so that primary producers are protected from unfair trading practice.

“Finally, we need a grown up and factual debate about Europe, based on facts rather than ideology. We need to have an informed discussion based on the value of trade, labour supply requirements, EU and UK regulations and of course CAP.”