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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what help will be provided to farmers affected by foot and mouth disease to enable them to return to farming. [6206] Mr. Morley: The previous Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East and Wallsend (Mr. Brown), announced on 8 May a range of measures amounting to £15.4 million, made up of: £10.4 million for an enhanced Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS) offering up to five days of free business advice for farmers whose livestock have been slaughtered under the foot and mouth control measures; £2 million in grant aid made available under a new round of the Agricultural Development Scheme, to improve marketing performance and competitiveness of sectors affected by foot and mouth; £3 million for a targeted trade development and market campaign, made available through Food from Britain who will co-ordinate their campaign with the Countryside Agency, Meat and Livestock Commission and others with an active interest. FBAS is a free and confidential service which is provided by an experienced farm business adviser and is available to any farmer in England who has had stock compulsorily slaughtered as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. We have sent a letter to all farmers in this category. An adviser will review the farmer's business and arrange for an environmental evaluation to be conducted by an appropriate specialist. The adviser will then help them prepare a whole farm recovery plan which will help farmers to develop new income opportunities and access the range of other support measures available to them. Advice is also provided on re-stocking. The Government's long-term strategy for the future of the agriculture industry aims to facilitate the development of a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector within a thriving rural economy that advances environmental, health and animal welfare goals. The independent Policy Commission announced on 9 August will look at the future of food and farming and advise us on how to achieve this. All this is in addition to the £1 billion paid out to farmers in compensation for animals slaughtered due to foot and mouth disease.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

6206; 372 c1112-3W;372 c1113W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Compensation Agriculture Advisory services Disease control Food Foot and mouth disease Government assistance Farmers Farm Business Advice Service

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk