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

As DEFRA face potential cuts of up to £270million, Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates has expressed his alarm over the devastation that budget cuts will wreak on a farming industry already on its knees.

Around £120 million has been spent this year on dealing with disease but plans are to claw back around one third of this from farmers to offset cuts to DEFRA funding. Money may be claimed through the use of a levy linked to farm sizes and would be used to fund compensation packages or deal with the cost of restrictions imposed following disease outbreak.

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Rural Affairs Mick Bates AM:

“The recent outbreaks of disease have caused catastrophe for the farming industry and the UK Government is to blame. The latest foot and mouth outbreak originated due to appalling biosecurity standards at Pirbright. Forcing farmers to pay millions more to the UK Government to offset the costs of dealing with disease is therefore a shocking proposal.

“Instead of following the principle that the polluter must pay, the Labour Government in Westminster is forcing our farmers to bear the brunt of the UK Government inadequacies. This is truly disgraceful.

“The UK Government has failed miserably to take responsibility – Welsh farmers are struggling to survive and not only has Westminster refused to provide a support package for farmers in Wales, but now they have the audacity to make the farming industry pay for Government error.

“This could not have come at a worse time as farmers in Wales are still reeling from the huge loss of trade following foot and mouth. I only hope that the plans will be reconsidered before a final decision is made that may have devastating consequences for our farmers in Wales.”



End / Diwedd