Blair defends farm policy
25 January 2001
Blair defends farm policy
By FWi staff
TONY BLAIR has defended his approach to farming, claiming that more subsides are paid to agriculture than to all other British industries put together.
The Prime Minister departed briefly from the issue of Peter Mandelsons resignation to answer two questions on farming on Wednesday (24 January).
Responding to Andrew George MP (Lib-Dem, St Ives) Mr Blair told MPs that the government paid out about 3 billion in subsidies each year.
He told Edward Leigh MP (Con, Gainsborough) that farmers problems were down to three key issues – low commodity prices, BSE and the very strong Pound.
Mr Blair added: “We are doing everything we can. We have had emergency aid packages for farmers.”
Mr Blair said the farming industry was not being helped by people who said that there was a simple solution to its problems.
“There is not,” he said. “Each of the three problems has to be dealt with.
“Some of them are outside our control, but the support that we are giving exceeds many of the programmes introduced by the previous government.”