We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.We must support our farmers, Benn tells Labour conference
HILARY Benn has told the Labour Party Conference that the Government must support farmers in their various vital roles for the country.
“We need our countryside to produce more food,” the Defra Secretary told delegates during his conference speech in Brighton.
“Our farmers and farmers around the world will have another 2 to 3 billion mouths to feed in two generation’s time.
“That’s why I want British agriculture to produce as much food as possible today as we protect the soil and water on which our ability to grow more food tomorrow depends.
“We’re working together to protect the environment, beat animal diseases, and tackle climate change.
“Our farmers – at the heart of our rural communities - are ready for the challenge. And we should support them in the great job they do.”
Mr Benn also hailed the Government’s progress in opening large parts of the countryside to the public, an achievement stemming from legislation put in place 60 years ago.
“It was this Labour Government that has opened up the countryside for everyone to enjoy with the right to roam,” he said.
He added that the first stretch the new Coastal Path around England will open at Weymouth Bay – site of the 2012 sailing competition – in time for the lighting of the Olympic flame. He made it clear there would be more to come under a re-elected Labour Government.
“Our next task is to enrich and link together more wonderful places where wildlife, bees, flowers and trees can flourish, and we can enjoy them as they do.
“So I will now ask a group of people passionate about our countryside to come up with a plan to do just that so that we can realise another long-held dream of all those who care about our wild places.”
He also highlighted the Government’s record on animal welfare over the past 12 years.
“We’ve passed the first all-embracing animal welfare act for a century, and in just over two years’ time battery cages for chickens will be no more,” he said.
Readers' comments (6)
Robert Lindley | 29 September 2009 4:07 pm
IF BENN IS SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING U.K. AGRICULTURE GET THE BUREAUCRATS OFF OUR BACKS AND HIS BAND OF PETTY INSPECTORS
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jim pitts | 29 September 2009 4:49 pm
It is sad when someone with as little knowledge of agriculture as Mr Benn pontificates to all and sundry as if he was an expert.
Since the awful time under Margaret Becket Defra have done nothing positive for agriculture & have merely added to the ridiculous red tape.
I fully agree with your previous commentator.
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Chris Bradley | 29 September 2009 5:08 pm
How can we produce more as this government and its quangos continue to increase the area taken out of production?It's all very well creating areas for wildlife bees flowers and trees to flourish but to then allow humans in defeats the objective. In my experience people destroy the very thing they have come to enjoy, not as individuals but by their numbers.
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Ben | 29 September 2009 9:08 pm
No mention of how to realistically tackle TB then?
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m evans | 30 September 2009 11:56 pm
If mr benn would just take his foot of my head i might stop drowning in paperwork get down the field and plant some food crops for the public to trample all over !
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Rod Newnham | 16 October 2009 4:58 pm
I read just a little while ago that British Forces are not being fed British produced food. Shall we ever have fully joined-up government, or will it always be disjointed? They couldn't organise the proverbial....!
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