(Carmarthen East and
Dinefwr) (PC):...Both farming unions in Wales agree. John
Mercer, Director of NFU Cymru said:
“It is absolutely clear that a no deal scenario will be
catastrophic for Welsh and indeed British agriculture. A scenario
where Welsh farmers have to operate under the ‘no deal’ default
of WTO tariffs will have devastating effects and will severely
threaten the livelihoods and business of Welsh farmers.”
I am delighted to report that Mr Dafydd Jarrett from NFU Cymru is
watching our proceedings.
Glyn Roberts of the Farmers’ Union of Wales said:
“It says it all that the prospect of a hard Brexit means a rich
and highly developed state is stockpiling food and hoping to use
an exemption to WTO rules on the Irish border which would more
normally be applied in cases of war or famine. Yet this situation
is not compulsory; this is a crisis which in fact we can easily
avoid by acting in the best interests of our four nations; by
withdrawing Article 50 and telling people honestly why Brexit
must take place over a safe and realistic timetable.”
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr ):...That is not the policy of
the British Government. As I say, we are looking at emergency
measures, and various figures have been bandied about. The
president of the National Farmers Union suggested that the
cost of supporting the sheep industry—probably a system involving a
headage payment based on the ewes that farmers had already
declared—would cost around £150 million. We understand its scale,
and I am sure the Treasury will be able to consider that. As I say,
we do not want a no-deal situation; we need to get a deal over the
line. Whoever the Prime Minister is next week, the best way to
minimise the impact on farmers—particularly sheep farmers—is to get
us a better deal that is acceptable to Parliament. Every single
hon. and right hon. Member of the House will need to examine their
conscience and consider how they have voted this year in a way that
did not deliver on Brexit...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
