Party policies: Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour

Why should farmers vote for your party?

On the basis of the levels of support we have given the industry, as exampled by the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, the Pig Meat Supply Chain Task Force and the Fruit and Vegetable Task Force.

There is also the £50 million Hilary [Benn]has committed to research and development [R&D] over the next few years and the strong European voice we give to British agriculture within the EU Agriculture council.

These are all practical examples of what we have been doing and how we will continue to support the industry.

Where would you make spending savings and improve efficiency in Defra and its agencies?
Following Alistair Darling’s budget, Defra announced it would deliver £194 million in savings. Savings will be made through:

• A reduction in spending on consultants, which will deliver savings of £25 million by 2012/13.
• Economies of scale and more flexible use of facilities, under a new facilities management contract, saving £9 million per year in 2012/13 and £11 million by 2013/14.
• Savings of £100 million in finance, human resources, ICT and procurement administration costs by stopping low-priority activities like some IT projects and improving efficiency. About 85 per cent of this will be made via Defra’s arms-length bodies.

How would you ensure the UK’s voice was heard in Europe in negotiations over farming regulation?
The key is full engagement and a much more structured approach to Europe. This means building alliances with like-minded countries, building relationships with commissioners and a new structured approach to engaging with MEPs.

We will also join stakeholders in co-ordinated lobbying on behalf of British agriculture, which is particularly useful because the NFU and others have good links to other country’s farming unions.

How would you tackle bovine TB?
We have invested millions to support vaccination and we are in for the long haul.

We are aware there is not going to be eradication overnight but we are clear about the direction of travel and how we want to proceed on this and we will continue with that.

We all want the same outcome, which is eradication. We made our decision on badger culling. Hilary [Benn] has listened to the experts and he has researched the science to arrive at his conclusion.

There is no reason to expect anything different when we win the election.

Would you introduce an independent body to take over animal health policy, alongside a levy on livestock producers?
We have published a Draft Bill that proposes a new Government-industry body, led by an independent chair and board, will take responsibility for animal health in England.

We believe a partnership through the new animal health body - where the industry can contribute to decisions about animal health - will produce better management of disease and reduce overall risks and costs.

There is a long way to go with pre-legislative scrutiny of the bill and we have set up Rosemary Radcliffe’s stakeholder group to help develop the policy.

Would you negotiate to retain Single Payments (or a version of) in the next version of the Common Agricultural Policy? Or should all funds be shifted to Pillar Two?
We have set out our direction in terms of wanting to transfer funds from Pillar One (direct support) to Pillar Two (rural development schemes).

We know the EU budget is going to be reducing and the agriculture element is going to be under pressure. We will press as hard as we can and we will be pushing for transition. But we know there is not unanimity in Europe to conform to our vision so we have to take a pragmatic approach to make sure we are as effective in those negotiations.

How would you encourage new entrants into the farming industry?
We would support Young Farmers groups, continue to push the skills agenda which we have mapped out and back FACE, the organisation promoting agriculture in schools and educating young children where food comes from.

All of these initiatives are helping to promote farming as an opportunity for young people who may not have considered it as an option before.

It is about demonstrating the potential and the fact there is a positive future in British agriculture.

How would you help farmers adopt measures that tackle climate change?
We recently made an announcement about how we will support anaerobic digestion plants on farms.

We are doing lots of research into emissions from food production, which includes transportation, the supply chain and animal emissions, including what can be controlled by feedstuffs, as well as monitoring exactly what the emission levels are.

We have set out our targets for society as a whole and agriculture has to play its part in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

It is very much about working with the industry and being supportive where progress is being made and offering advice and assistance where appropriate.

Would you encourage, domestically and at EU level, the growth of GM crops?
The argument, publicly, was lost a decade ago, but I think there is a changing mood in the country about GM.

This Government has been disposed towards taking advantages of available scientific advances.

There is a dialogue taking place internationally on GM crops. There are countries which are very opposed.

We are saying let us look at the science to see if there is something we could deploy to make sure we produce enough food to feed the world in a way which is not going to damage us or the environment.

What would you do to encourage agricultural R&D in the UK?
Last year, Defra announced a partnership with the Technology Strategy Board and the Biological Sciences Research Council will see investment of up to £75 million in innovative technological R&D over the next five years.

This will cover areas such as crop productivity, sustainable livestock production, waste reduction and management and greenhouse gas reduction.

The aim is to stimulate the development of new technologies which will increase food productivity, while decreasing the environmental impact of the food and farming industries.

What is the single most important issue facing farmers at this moment in time?
The climate is the single most important issue facing farmers. That is what they are battling all the time.

They need to master the natural elements and it is very much a matter of their skill base, understanding and knowledge of their own patch.

Climate change is another dimension to this.

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