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

Welsh farmer and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Mick Bates AM, today slammed the First Minister for the decision to give £1million to supermarkets, while Welsh farmers faced financial ruin following the foot and mouth outbreaks.

Mick questioned the First Minister during plenary on the relationship between farmers and supermarkets, to which the First Minister replied that this relationship ‘is a commercial one in which we (Welsh Assembly Government) have no role except in exceptional circumstances.’

In a fiery response Mick highlighted that supermarkets are “powerful, profitable and have been exposed for profiteering on their produce at the expense of the Welsh Milk industry.”

“Given this track record I believe that the £1million earmarked for promotion of Welsh produce would have been better spent supporting farmers who are suffering from the devastating effects of the foot and mouth outbreaks.

“Promotion is useful but the supermarkets should pay for it not the tax payer – I urge the Plaid-Labour Government to admit their mistake and confess that this money should have been given directly to Welsh farmers in their time of need.”



End / Diwedd