Spelman speech paves way for right reform on CAP, says CLA

The CLA said the speech made today (5 January) by Secretary of State Caroline Spelman at the Oxford Farming Conference paved the way for the right Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) capable of delivering enough food to feed a growing population while simultaneously protecting biodiversity and other vital natural resources. 

CLA President William Worsley said: In Caroline Spelman, we at last have a Minister who is determined to be at the heart of the debate on the future of the CAP, and is in tune with the European Commission’s proposals on the best way forward when the policy is next reformed in 2013.

However, there is still much to be done if UK farmers and the countryside are to flourish. The proposals come at a price and the resources needed to realise them must be calculated at the outset. It is pointless citing the percentage of the EU budget spent on the CAP. The EU has few common spending policies, so the policies it does have make up a significant proportion of the overall budget. In fact, the total EU spend on agricultural support is a mere 0.4 percent of the EU’s Gross National Income. In our view, this is not an unreasonable proportion to spend on the policy aimed at supporting Europes Food and Environmental Security.

The Association warned the Government must prove it is the greenest Government ever by fighting for the UK’s farmers and land managers to get a higher share of the overall Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget than they do at present.

Mr Worsley said: Ms Spelman must ensure the structure of farming in Britain is not penalised by the Commissions suggestions on capping large payments and restricting payments to narrowly defined “active farmers”. The payments are about more than just farming and should be paid to whoever does the necessary environmental land management on whatever scale they operate.

UK farmers must get a fair share of the CAP budget to remain competitive with our European neighbours and to support both farming and the natural environment.

• The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has around 35,000 members.
• As a membership organisation, the CLA supports landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land. We are dedicated to supporting landowners and their businesses. Our success is measured by how effectively we do that. We have a team of experts in London and a regional structure able to give local support.
• We have been looking after the interests of our members, as well as promoting the positive aspects of land ownership, land management and rural business activities for the past 100 years. CLA members own or manage approximately half the rural land in England and Wales, and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.
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