Williams continues to question Ministers over support for upland hill farmers
CAP reform impact on upland hill farmers of concern.
Yesterday, during Defra Questions in the House of Commons, Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams raised his concerns regarding the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and its potential impact on upland hill farmers.
Roger, who is Chair of the Liberal Democrat Environment, Food and Rural Affairs backbench committee, asked the Secretary of State:
“Upland farms in the UK, particularly those in England, are good at delivering environmental objectives. What will the reformed CAP do to ensure that upland farms maintain their financial viability, so they can continue to deliver those public goods?”
In reply, Mr Paterson said:
I confirm again my belief that because in parts of the UK, such as upland areas, it is tough to make a living purely from food production, there is a significant role for taxpayers’ money to be spent on environmental schemes supporting the valuable work upland farmers do to protect and improve the environment, upon which sits a tourism industry worth £33 billion.
Commenting after the debate, Mr Williams said:
“Hill farms are under the most financial pressure and it is essential that the English proposals for delivering Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 of the CAP, provide sufficient financial support for these businesses so that they continue to deliver public goods such as biodiversity, landscape quality and access that the public so value. I will be making representations to the Ministers in DEFRA to ensure that payments are slanted to the Uplands.”
