IN BRIEF
IN BRIEF
• PETER Allen, chairman of the NFUs less favoured areas committee and a member of the unions livestock committee, has been appointed chairman of the advisory committee to the EU Commission on sheep and goats. He succeeds NFU president Ben Gill, who chaired the committee for the past 10 years.
• PARLIAMENTS cross-bench environment sub-committee has announced that it will hold an inquiry next year into the operation of the landfill tax. Issues under the microscope will include the environmental benefits resulting from the tax, and where and how the cash raised is spent. Undesirable consequences, such as increased fly-tipping, will also be considered.
• WEST Country farmer Richard Haddock has agreed to stand for election as an NFU deputy president following his nomination by Devon NFUs executive council.
• CONTROL of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme will remain with MAFF and will not be transferred to the Countryside Agency as reported in News, Nov 27.
• COMPENSATION for sheep or goats slaughtered in December under the governments scrapie order will be £15.41 if the disease is confirmed by post mortem. If scrapie is not confirmed, the compensation will be either £15.41, or up to £400 if the owner of the slaughtered animal can provide evidence of its market value. *