Conservatives plan farming revival

28 April 1999

Conservatives plan farming revival

THE Conservative Party has unveiled a 70-point plan to help revive Britains farming industry, reports the Financial Times

The plan includes a threat to block food imports from European Union countries that failed to meet British welfare standards.

The party said it wanted the British farmers to be able to compete on equal terms in the world market.

The Independent reports that the Conservative Party has urged the government to publish quarterly figures comparing farm gate and retail prices.

This would enable the public to see whether supermarkets are making unjustified profits, said Tim Yeo, Tory agriculture spokesman.

Meanwhile, The Herald reports that Tory members of the new Scottish parliament will bring an understanding of the problems facing farmers.

The claim was made by John Scott, former hill farming convener (chairman) of the National Farmers Union of Scotland.

Mr Scott, Tory candidate for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, said the Labour government “appears neither to know nor care” about the problems facing farmers.

He said the Tories would cut red tape and bureaucracy, lift the ban on beef on the bone and introduce an appeals procedure on subsidy claims.

• Tories to bid for farming vote, FWi, 26 April, 1999
  

• Financial Times 28/04/99 page 11 (News Digest)
  
• The Herald 28/04/99 page 26