Greens slam Morleys benchmarks

22 February 2000



Greens slam Morley’s benchmarks

ENVIRONMENTAL groups have accused the government of being inconsistent in
its choice of barometers to gauge the health of the countryside,

On Monday (21 February) junior farming minister Elliot Morley announced
that skylark numbers and numbers of organic farms would be among indicators
used by the government to measure sustainability.

But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds claimed the indicators
revealed a “lack of joined-up thinking in Whitehall”.

Missing were key indicators such as losses of mixed farms and the number
of sheep on moors, which could reveal bird declines, said the RSPB.

It also noted that, while the indicators for arable land predicted a 52% increase in irrigation water by 2001, the forthcoming Water Bill will try to reduce
water use.

Organic farming organisation The Soil Association joined criticism of
the report.

It said the report praised the benefits to the environment from organic
farming, yet government support for organics is just £16 million out of a £3bn farming budget.

• Morley sets out green benchmarks, FWi, yesterday (21 February, 2000)
• The Express 22/02/2000 page 27