Foot and Mouth compensation for farmers

Montgomeryshire Farmer and AM, Mick Bates, has campaigned for a welfare package to help farmers recover after the latest outbreaks of foot and mouth:

"The effect of the foot and mouth outbreak has devastated our farmers in Wales who have suffered at the hands of the UK Government. The outbreaks came at a peak time as almost 70% of sheep are traded in Wales between August and December. Restrictions on trade have left farmers facing financial ruin.

“While I believe that ultimately the Westminster Government should pay for their negligence, the Labour UK Government is refusing to accept responsibility so it is vital that the Welsh Assembly Government now steps in to compensate our farmers for their loss.

“The Scottish Government has provided £25million for a welfare scheme for farmers in Scotland while Defra is providing £12.5million to English farmers. Welsh farmers have been the worst compensated with only a £6.75 million aid package from the Welsh Assembly Government. This is a drop in the ocean when we consider that NFU Cymru estimates that the cost of the outbreak to Welsh farmers to be a staggering £40million.

Mick wrote to the Minister Elin Jones to request copies of all correspondence and minutes of all meetings between the Assembly Government and DEFRA regarding financial support for farmers following the outbreak of the disease but has been denied access under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 

Commenting Mick said: “Minister Elin Jones keeps saying that she can’t pay more money to farmers. I have repeatedly asked for proof that she asked for more money from the UK government. We have yet to see any evidence – and now it seems we will not. That simply isn’t good enough.

“Meanwhile Welsh farmers and their families continue to suffer as they recover from the devastating impacts of foot and mouth, TB and Bluetongue. I hope that the UK Government will not leave them suffer in silence.”