Brown rules out agrimonetary aid
2 February 2000
Brown rules out agrimonetary aid
By Isabel Davies and Johann Tasker
AGRICULTURE minister Nick Brown has announced a reduction in the amount of
red-tape faced by farmers – but he has ruled out any agrimonetary aid
to producers.
Mr Brown received a rough ride from farmers after the
announcements, made during a speech at the National Farmers Union
annual conference in London.
After he left the stage, an unknown woman masquerading as a
reporter ran towards the minister and shoved a chocolate eclair into
his face.
Mr Brown later told journalists that he had no idea of the womans
identity. But he did not think she was a delegate because she was
wearing a media pass.
“I do not think todays silly stunt has anything to do with
agriculture.”
The pressure group Compassion in World Farming, which has been
picketing the conference in protest at live animal exports, denied any
involvement in the incident.
Mr Brown used his speech to expand on comments made by the Prime
Minister, who said that the government wanted a good relationship with
farmers.
“We wont agree on everything, but our common interest lies in
getting farming through to better times,” said Mr Brown.
However, there would be no announcement on agrimonetary
compensation to offset the reduction in farm subsides caused by the
strength of Sterling.
“It would be wrong of me to stand here today and hold up the
prospect of it in the near future because that would be misleading,”
he said.
Instead, Mr Brown said he had accepted 98 out of 107
recommendations from three industry working groups to reduce the
amount of bureaucracy in farming.
“I am clear on better regulation – gaining for farmers that all-important playing field,” he told conference delegates at the Park
Lane Hilton Hotel.
The remit of the working groups, announced by Mr Brown last autumn,
was to examine ways of cutting farmers paperwork and reducing farm
inspections.
Mr Brown accepted the recommendation by the first working group,
examining meat-inspection procedures, that the system should be
reformed.
Future hygiene inspections would move to a risk-based system, he
announced, saying it was time that meat hygiene caught up with the
rest of the food industry.
However, the working group could not find a solution to the complex
issue of meat-inspection charges which met all interests, Mr Brown
revealed.
A task force involving farmers and the meat industry will now
examine all issues surrounding a “capping” approach to meat inspection
charges, he said.
Out of 43 recommendations from the second group on intervention, 41
would be accepted by the government, 30 of which would be implemented
“very quickly”.
The workings of the intervention system will now be reformed to
make it as acceptable and accessible for farmers in Britain as it is
in Europe, said Mr Brown.
Recommendations for reform governing on-farm inspections and the
Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS), were also largely
accepted.
By 2002, it will be possible to submit all subsidy claims
electronically, with a consultation on changes to accelerate the
coverage of the cattle tracing system.
Government officials have also been asked to prepare a consultation
paper to explore a range of options, with a view to setting up an
independent appeals system.
Mr Brown also unveiled what he said was an extra 6.6 million for
marketing.
An estimated 2m was announced under the Agriculture Development
Scheme, together with a 4.6m promotional campaign for pork and pork
products.
Details of the joint promotion are being finalised with the Meat
and Livestock Commission, and will be announced shortly, said Mr Brown.