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

Montgomeryshire farmer Mick Bates AM welcomes the news that a welfare disposal scheme for light lambs in Wales has finally been approved by the European Commission.

The scheme will begin in Wales on Saturday 27th October and will run until January 4th 2008. To be eligible lambs cannot weigh more than 25 kilograms liveweight.

“I am extremely pleased with this announcement that a livestock welfare disposal scheme will at last be established for farmers in Wales. I have called for a welfare scheme since the outbreaks began and I am relieved that the Labour-Plaid Government has finally woken up to the devastating reality of this crisis.

“In Wales there are some 830,000 light lambs produced annually with around 300,000 of these being in the light lamb category. Many of these are destined for the export market, but with a ban on trade farmers are burdened with backlogs of lambs that they have been unable to sell. I hope the Welsh farmers who use Oswestry market can find an outlet quickly.

“Foot and mouth outbreaks have crippled the farming industry. Welsh farmers have been facing financial ruin at what is normally the busiest time of year. I welcome the welfare scheme which will pay out £15 per lamb but this is abysmal when we consider that farmers were receiving around double this time last year.

“It is a disgrace that the Welsh Assembly Government has had to scrape together money for the scheme. They have managed to set aside £6.75m but the UK Government are clearly to blame for drastically ignoring basic biosecurity safeguards at Pirbright. I believe that the polluter must pay – the Westminster Government must accept responsibility and not let our country suffer from their negligence.

“A welfare scheme is definitely a step in the right direction but there is still a long journey ahead. The best thing for the industry now is to return to normal trading and I only hope that farmers will survive the long road to recovery.”



End / Diwedd