Farron speaks out against miserly DEFRA Budget

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 26th Feb 2008

Tim Farron MP, the Liberal Democrat Countryside Spokesman, today spoke out against the paltry rise in the DEFRA budget of just 1.4% (after inflation). This small increase has come in spite of the Government committing several hundred million pounds to flood defences and renewable energy sources.

Tim Farron MP said:

"Earlier this month the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, spoke to the NFU conference insisting that he knew the value of farmers and their contribution to the economy. However, if millions have been allocated elsewhere, where is all the money going to come from to provide core support to our agriculture industry? All this comes at a time when the Government is asking farmers to foot the bill for the Government's disease prevention schemes.

"In addition to this disgraceful lack of funds for the agriculture sector, the Government can clearly not be too serious about its climate change targets or flooding either - where is the money going to come from for these initiatives, and when will they get the support they deserve?"