Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Montgomeryshire AM and local farmer Mick Bates demands more financial support for Welsh farmers in their time of need, as Wales bears the burden of Westminster’s blunder on biosecurity.

The Scottish Government has provided £25million for a welfare scheme for farmers in Scotland while Defra is providing £12.5million to English farmers. Commenting on the comparative funding that has been provided in Wales for a welfare scheme Mick Bates said:

“NFU Cymru has estimated that the cost of the outbreak to Welsh farmers is a staggering £40million. In Wales we have a proportionally higher number of farmers yet the Welsh Assembly Government has only managed to offer £6.75million for a welfare scheme – this is totally insufficient and unacceptable.”

Today in the chamber Mick Bates once again challenged the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government over its failure to secure a financial support package from the UK Treasury:

“The recent outbreak of foot and mouth has left massive economic devastation in its wake. Farmers in Wales have suffered through no fault of their own – yet of the £6.75million that has been promised, only £3.75million of this may actually reach our farmers, the rest will burn along with their livelihoods.

“I believe that ultimately the Westminster Government should pay for their negligence and cough up with a recovery package for farmers. Sadly the Labour UK Government has refused to do the honourable thing and accept responsibility. The Welsh Assembly Government must now step in and ensure farmers in Wales receive a decent return for their loss.

“The Welsh Assembly Government has a contingency fund in place for emergencies such as foot and mouth and this fund must be used now to save our farming industry in Wales before it is too late.”



End / Diwedd