Party policies: Jim Paice, Conservatives

Why should farmers vote for your party?
Because we will put food production back to the top of the agenda, we will reduce the burden of regulation and we will introduce honest country of origin food labelling.

This election is a choice between a Government which has devalued our farming industry and a Conservative Party which believes in British agriculture.

Where would you make spending savings and improve efficiency in Defra and its agencies?
We are determined to improve Defra’s performance and have said very clearly that under a Conservative Government there will be fewer rural quangos.

There is no doubt driving greater efficiency and value for money are not optional extras when we need to deliver more from less.

To support Ministers in ensuring Defra delivers, we will set up a board to hold the department to account, made up of senior non-executive directors with serious business experience.

How would you ensure the UK’s voice is heard in Europe in negotiations over farming regulations?
When so many of the regulations farmers have to deal with come from Europe, an effective presence in Brussels is absolutely crucial.

In recent years, Britain has not punched its weight in Europe and we will change that by pursuing a policy of active and early engagement.

As Minister for agriculture, I would spend as much time as possible in Brussels, building the relationships that are so important in the negotiating process and ensuring that the interests of our farmers are powerfully represented.

How would you tackle bovine TB?
TB cannot be brought under control without a comprehensive package of measures including addressing the reservoir of infection in wildlife.

We will work with the industry to strengthen cattle controls, continue the development of vaccines and move quickly to validate the PCR test to detect infected badger setts. While vaccination is an important part of the long-term solution we cannot afford to wait until 2014 when this may be available.

A carefully managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas of high and persistent levels of TB in cattle is necessary to eradicate this disease.

Would you introduce an independent body to take over animal health policy, alongside a levy on livestock producers?
We believe sharing the responsibility of tackling animal disease is right in principle and can deliver public benefits. But we are not committed to the current proposals.

We will await the outcome of the review by Rosemary Radcliffe before taking a final decision, but what is absolutely clear is there must be genuine industry involvement in thedevelopment of animal health policy before the costs are apportioned.

Would you negotiate to retain Single Payments (or a version of) in the next version of the Common Agricultural Policy? Or do you believe all funds should be shifted to Pillar Two?
I understand single payments are a critical element of farm income but they will not last forever.

Farmers must be freed to compete openly and fairly with overseas producers while being supported for enhancing the environment and maintaining the attractiveness of the countryside.

We want to see a gradual shift of resources to Pillar Two and an increasing proportion of spending under the rural development programme on measures to help the farming industry modernise and meet future challenges.

How would you encourage new entrants into farming?
The most important attraction will be enabling farming to be a profitable and respected career.

It will always be a tough life but young people entering the industry need to feel valued. Under a Conservative Government they will be.

How would you help farmers adopt measures that tackle climate change?
We will make sure energy ‘feed-in tariffs’ really encourage investment in on-farm renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digestion, so farmers can make money from muck and become producers as well as consumers of energy.

We will also stimulate the use of wood for heat or power to produce an income from lowland woods.

On the other side of the coin we need to concentrate some of our research into ways of reducing emissions from the industry, both from livestock and from arable production.

Would you encourage, domestically and at EU level, the growth of GM crops?
We must have a rational debate about the future of new technologies, including GM.

Trials must be allowed to go ahead so our decisions are led by science but we will not permit commercial planting until and unless it has been properly assessed as safe for people and the environment.

We must also respect those who do not wish to grow or to eat GM material by introducing clear rules on crop separation and on the issue of liability if non-GM crops become cross-pollinated or mixed after harvest.

Whether a farmer then grows a crop will depend on whether a consumer is likely to buy it.

What would you do to encourage agricultural Research and Development (R&D) in the UK?
There is no doubt in my mind of the importance of agricultural science to the immense challenge of increasing food production while protecting the environment.

The Conservatives are committed to prioritising R&D within the departmental budget and to developing a long-term strategic research agenda across the whole food chain.

However, when the public finances are under such strain there is an imperative to encourage new revenue streams for research and remove barriers to collaboration between the public and private sectors wherever they exist.

We must also strike the right balance between ‘blue skies’ science and applied research, and ensure this is translated into practical benefits for our farmers and growers.

What is the single most important issue facing farmers?
Different farmers face different challenges but the importance of a fair market is common to all.

We will strive to create the conditions in which our farmers can thrive against overseas competitors by introducing a supermarket ombudsman, ensuring honest food labelling, overhauling farm regulations and pushing for the abolition of production subsidies across the rest of Europe.

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