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

Pleased with the recommendations of the Welsh Assembly Rural Development Sub Committee, Montgomeryshire AM and Committee member Mick Bates urges the Assembly Government to act quickly on the findings and provide a support package to ease the burden on Wales of Westminster’s blunder on biosecurity.

The Rural Development Sub Committee report, which is in line with the view of the Finance Committee view, recommends that ‘the Assembly Government continues its efforts to seek the funding of compensation payments to Welsh farmers from the UK Government and that the matter is resolved as soon as possible’.

The report also recommends that while negotiations over a welfare package continue, the Assembly Government in the meantime should investigate ‘providing an interim support package to ensure that the objective of minimising the economic impact on farming and associated industries is met’ and that ‘such an interim support package could be funded through reserves and any shortfall in spending for the light lambs’ relief’.

As a member of the Rural Development Sub-Committee, Mick Bates AM comments:

“I am pleased with the recommendations of the Committee. I have called all along for money from the Welsh Assembly contingency fund to be used to finance an aid package for farmers, so I hope that the report will offer some much needed support after what has been an extremely difficult and traumatic time for our farmers in Wales.

“While I believe that ultimately the Westminster Government should pay for their negligence, the Labour UK Government is refusing to accept responsibility so it is vital that the Welsh Assembly Government now steps in to compensate our farmers for their loss.

“The Scottish Government has provided £25million for a welfare scheme for farmers in Scotland while Defra is providing £12.5million to English farmers. Welsh farmers have been the worst compensated with only a £6.75 million aid package from the Welsh Assembly Government. This is a drop in the ocean when we consider that NFU Cymru estimates that the cost of the outbreak to Welsh farmers to be a staggering £40million.

“I hope that the outcome of the Rural Development Committee’s inquiry will give the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, the backing that she needs to persuade her Labour-Plaid cabinet colleagues to dip into reserve funding to support our farmers and ensure the survival of our farming industry in Wales.”


End / Diwedd