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Scottish farmers lobby UK Environment Secretary |
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Tuesday, 16 October 2007 |
Scotland's farming union will be highlighting the urgent need for foot and mouth compensation for Scottish farmers when they meet Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP and other MPs in Westminster today and tomorrow.
The meetings follow the row last week over reports that UK Government
compensation for Scottish farmers was removed from a parliamentary
statement made by Benn.
NFU Scotland officials are meeting with Benn tomorrow this evening.
They will outline what is required for the Scottish agricultural
industry to alleviate the immediate welfare and financial crisis.
In addition, NFUS officials will be meeting MPs to outline the same
issues in advance of a parliamentary debate on foot and mouth tomorrow.
NFUS estimates that around £7 million in emergency funding is required
immediately to fund Scottish schemes to alleviate welfare problems
within the sheep, pig and dairy industries.
It said that the closure of European markets has resulted in animals
being stranded on farm without any market outlet. Whilst there was a
limited lifting of the export ban last Friday, it does not apply to
live animals, is subject to extremely onerous restrictions and there is
a huge backlog that cannot be processed, explained the union.
There is also an immediate cashflow crisis on Scottish livestock farms
whose lifeline autumn income has been severely restricted as a result
of trading restrictions. Whilst many restrictions have been lifted,
subsequent price collapses require immediate compensation for Scotland
in the region of £50 million industry-wide.
NFUS president Jim McLaren said: "We are now into the eleventh week of
turmoil following the Foot and Mouth outbreak in Surrey. The UK
Government must be accountable for the welfare and financial crisis on
Scottish livestock farms. This disease came from a
government-controlled facility and there is a Treasury contingency fund
set aside for such exceptional circumstances.
"Animals are now facing major welfare problems as a result of a lack of
grazing and overcrowding. It is a priority that this is sorted. The
Scottish Government has had to step up to the plate in light of the
lack of action from UK Government. However, the welfare scheme for
light lambs addresses just one problem. There are very real issues for
older breeding sheep and pigs and for dairy calves which would normally
be exported but which now have no market. The UK Government has a moral
obligation to alleviate these problems."
McLaren said that when he meets with Benn, he will continue the fight
to get compensation for the wider market losses incurred as a result of
Foot and Mouth.
"Our members are facing losses which, in some cases, stretch into tens
of thousands of pounds. With extra costs as well, many are staring into
an abyss with banks unable to lend them any more money. Without
immediate compensation, the UK Government will preside over the
disappearance of vast swathes of Scotland’s livestock industry."
No one has commented on this article.
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