Government announces 24m in aid

18 October 2001



Government announces 24m in aid

By FWi staff

THE government has announced a 24m aid package to help kick-start a rural recovery in areas hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

But the money falls short of long-awaited proposals contained in a report by Lord Haskins who had called for a 40m rural recovery fund.

The government should fund a scheme to get feed on to farms in crisis-hit areas such as Cumbria, it added. Farmers should receive free business advice.

The National Farmers Union had said his recommendations would be judged by many of them were implemented, and how quickly.

Rural Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett said the government would respond shortly to all recommendations made in Lord Haskins report.

In the meantime, she said most of the 24m aid would be directed towards rural businesses in Cumbria one of the areas hit hardest by foot-and-mouth.

Shadow Rural Affairs secretary Peter Ainsworth described the governments aid package as “too little, too late”.

The Cumbria foot-and-mouth task force had estimated that at least 150 million of help was needed in the region, he added.

• Haskins unveils rural recovery plan, FWi, 18 October, 2001
• Second report urges short-term help, FWi, 18 October, 2001
• Ministers must act, warns watchdog, FWi, 18 October, 2001
• Implement recovery plan now – NFU, FWi 18 October, 2001
• 40m is not enough, say landowners, FWi, 18 October 2001
• Rural economy must be restructured, FWi, 18 October 2001
• Auctioneers criticise Haskins report, FWi, 18 October 2001