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

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Mick Bates AM is disappointed that Welsh hill farmers will not receive the same support as English hill farmers.

Hilary Benn, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, announced yesterday that £12.5 million would be given to the English livestock sector. English hill farmers will get an additional 30% payment, which will assist cash flow.

The package is aimed to help alleviate the economic and welfare problems that have arisen following the outbreak of foot and mouth, due to the ‘accidental’ release of the virus from the Government research centre at Pirbright.

Montgomeryshire farmer Mick Bates: “I suspect that the Plaid-Labour Government cannot persuade Benn to give a share of Treasury funding to Wales to support our hill farmers. If they can’t get financial support from Westminster, I hope the Plaid-Labour Government can find money from their own budget to assist Welsh hill farmers.”

“I welcomed the move by the Assembly Government last week to pursue a welfare scheme and I am pleased that export markets will resume as of October 12th. However the 20 day standstill rule is still causing havoc for farmers. Let’s follow the Scottish example and lift the standstill rule next week. If export is to work successfully, buyers must be able to purchase in live markets and collection centres.

“The crisis in the Welsh countryside deepens as the effects of foot and mouth hit the farming economy. More action is needed now if we are to ease this crisis and support farmers across Wales who are suffering unnecessarily.”


End / Diwedd