24 June 2010
George Freeman pressed the Secretary of State at the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs questions this morning to confirm the Government will do all it can to promote the interest of British farmers in the forthcoming review of the CAP the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Mr Freeman, the Member of Parliament for Mid Norfolk, praised the “rich experience of the countryside in the new DEFRA frontbench team” after thirteen years of rural communities feeling somewhat neglected by Whitehall. He proceeded to highlight the need in the forthcoming reform of the CAP payments to ensure a regime that allows British farmers to compete, innovate and invest, whilst receiving support for the vital stewardship of the environment that we too often take for granted.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Freeman said “we need to target our support so that our farmers can compete in the free market of the food business, allowing them to innovate, invest in new approaches and produce the high quality produce we want at prices consumers can afford.
“We need to support our farmers with their environmental stewardship, which many otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.”
Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, responded to his question with the following response:
“We will be seeking the best deal for farmers, consumers, taxpayers and the environments alike as part of the CAP reform negotiations and there is broad support across European countries that farmers who undoubtedly provide public goods as part of sustainable food production should have that recognised.”
| Hansard
Mr Freeman, the Member of Parliament for Mid Norfolk, praised the “rich experience of the countryside in the new DEFRA frontbench team” after thirteen years of rural communities feeling somewhat neglected by Whitehall. He proceeded to highlight the need in the forthcoming reform of the CAP payments to ensure a regime that allows British farmers to compete, innovate and invest, whilst receiving support for the vital stewardship of the environment that we too often take for granted.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Freeman said “we need to target our support so that our farmers can compete in the free market of the food business, allowing them to innovate, invest in new approaches and produce the high quality produce we want at prices consumers can afford.
“We need to support our farmers with their environmental stewardship, which many otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.”
Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, responded to his question with the following response:
“We will be seeking the best deal for farmers, consumers, taxpayers and the environments alike as part of the CAP reform negotiations and there is broad support across European countries that farmers who undoubtedly provide public goods as part of sustainable food production should have that recognised.”
| Hansard
