Tories say aid wont benefit farmers
20 April 2000
Tories say aid won’t benefit farmers
By FWi staff
FARMERS wont benefit as they should from the recent 200 million aid package because ministers plan to pay out less agrimoney compensation this year than last, claims the Tory Party.
Shadow agriculture minister Tim Yeo said that the government pledge of 66m in agrimoney compensation this year was still 110m less than last year.
“Nick Brown has misled farmers for too long,” he said.
“The truth is that Tony Blairs Downing Street summit was a cruel device behind which Labour hid a cut in support for farmers at a time of crisis.”
Meanwhile, the Tory Party plans to set up its own red-tape commission amid accusations that the government has not cut bureaucracy enough.
Mr Yeo said the commission would look at the burden of regulation on farmers, which was rendering many producers uncompetitive.
“The commission will ensure that the government are held to account on deregulation,” he said.
“As usual, the governments own attempts to reduce regulation have promised much and delivered little.”
The committee includes former NFU president Sir David Naish and former CLA president Hugh Duberley. It will examine the governments plan for farming.
The action plan was released at last months farm summit.
The findings of the committee are expected to be incorporated into the Conservative Partys election manifesto.