We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.NFU 2010: Tories 'will not disadvantage farmers on CAP'
CONSERVATIVE Shadow Defra Secretary Nick Herbert has insisted his party would not negotiate Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reform that resulted in an ‘uncommon policy’.
He was responding to comments by NFU president Peter Kendall who expressed concern that some people ‘on the Conservative front bench want to see CAP funding re-nationalised’.
Mr Kendall referred to comments indicating that the Tories wanted to co-finance all CAP funding, meaning national Governments make contributions to direct payments.
He fears this could lead to a situation where some member choose to make national top ups while others, including the UK, would not.
“I urge you too to think again. That would signal the end of the common policy and simply lead to more competitive distortions within what is meant to be a single, European market,” he said.
“In short, our message is clear and unequivocal. The NFU wants to see a CAP which is what it says on the tin: ‘Common, Agricultural and a Policy’.”
Mr Herbert acknowledged that the Conservatives would support future co-financing of the CAP. He said there would be pressure on the CAP budget because member state finances are ‘shot’.
But he insisted he ‘did not recognise’ Mr Kendall’s description of the Tory stance. “There is a Common Agricultural Policy and we want to make sure that it is common,” he said.
“We must be clear-sighted about what is in the best interests of both the taxpayer and also the British farmer,” he said.
Mr Kendall said he was ‘reassured’ by Mr Herbert’s comments. Earlier he had issued as message to the next Government – ‘of whatever colour’ – to push for a CAP which ‘supports productive farming’.
He urged those ‘who are set on eliminating direct support and channelling all funding to the delivery of environmental public goods’ to ‘think again’.
In his conference address, Defra Secretary Hilary Benn said he would pursue a ‘progressive CAP’ to support a ‘progressive farming industry’.
But he said it was vital that a strong Pillar Two of the CAP acknowledged the environmental value of British farming, which, itself, would ‘be increasingly important to production’.
