FUW calls on PM to halt DEFRA cuts

THE Farmers' Union of Wales has expressed its "extreme concerns" to the Prime Minister about the impact on the Welsh farming industry of cuts amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds to Defra's budget.

"We have already made strong representations on this issue to Defra Ministers Lord Rooker and Hilary Benn and the Assembly's Rural Affairs Minister but it is obvious that the responsibility of implementing these cuts ultimately lies with Gordon Brown," said FUW president Gareth Vaughan.

He has written to Mr Brown stressing that although the industry's concerns are related to the administration undertaken by Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government, local authorities and other bodies, the overall budgetary restrictions are placed on those bodies by the Treasury.

"The proposed cuts, expected to run into hundreds of millions of pounds, are closely related to Defra's expected fine from the EU for failing to properly implement the English Single Payment Scheme," said Mr Vaughan.

"But it seems FUW members who have land in England, having already suffered due to the severe failures of Defra and the Rural Payments Agency since 2004, will now suffer further, as they will effectively be handed a proportion of the fine for the failures that have already affected them.

"Meanwhile, our members who farm in Wales will also effectively pay a proportion of the fine imposed for what they regard as the incompetence of a neighbouring Competent Authority.

"We also fear further economical pressures caused by the proposed sharing by the farming industry of animal health and welfare costs plus other budgetary cuts.

"For example, disease control measures will be adversely affected as Local Authority Trading Standards budgets are cut and small and medium size slaughterhouses are expected to suffer severely as the costs of increased bureaucracy are transferred from the Meat Hygiene Services to the industry."

Mr Vaughan told Mr Brown all this was happening at a time when the desire and need for more locally produced and processed meat is growing.

"Clearly the UK farming industry has a major role to play in meeting the two major challenges currently facing mankind, namely meeting global food demands and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"However, if we are to rise to those challenges, as I believe we can, we require the proactive support of Government rather than hikes in costs that are likely to hinder the industry's transition and advancement.

"I believe that all relevant budgetary cuts should be halted and reversed, and that the affordability of the cost-sharing agenda - both in terms of financial and environmental affordability - should be the overriding feature of any future plans.

"I would therefore ask that your Government revisit the current budgetary plans and arrangements with a view to doing just that."

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