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Agricultural Policy

Indeed. That made as great an impression on me as it did on the hon. Lady. I hesitate to say this, but the thing that impressed us most about that visit was that the carcase was dealt with immediately upon arrival, with the appropriate tests being undertaken on the site. The farmer could then have some reassurance, and the appropriate action could be taken. The second matter I want to address is the Food Standards Agency proposal to transfer the cost of meat inspections to the industry. That has been a cause of concern for some of my constituents. I appreciate that implementation may be some way off, given that the Government have announced that the current arrangements will remain in place for six months from April 2012. However, if the proposals go ahead, the cost to farmers and slaughterhouses could be about £25 million a year, and the impact will hit small and medium-sized slaughterhouses the most. Smaller, more local slaughterhouses play an important role in the farming community. To put that in context, small and medium-sized slaughterhouses are responsible for slaughtering more than 50% of cattle, 70% of sheep, 25% of pigs and 40% of poultry. The closure of smaller slaughterhouses would mean the loss of an invaluable local service in rural communities such as mine, as well as threatening jobs—again, it would not be many, but I would hazard a guess that they are key jobs in the local community. Such closures would also undermine much of what has been achieved in local food production over the past few years. Produce would have a higher carbon footprint and lose its local aspect, which attracts many consumers to it. I will resist the temptation to reel off a list of Ceredigion food producers, but I would commend to Members Gorwydd Caerphilly, Teifi cheese and Toloja cider. There are all sorts of products at the Aberystwyth farmers’ market, which is held twice a month. Farmers’ markets have been a huge success. [ Interruption. ] It is on a Saturday, at 10 o’clock—I will see the right hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd there. Farmers’ markets are commendable. We have had huge success. We have talked about tourism, and there is immense potential for food tourism across our constituencies. Local farmers’ markets, local butchers, and the organic market have grown immensely over the years, but they will suffer as a result of the implications of the proposed policy. I therefore urge caution. We have heard about the challenges of the CAP. The Committee will hear more from my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnorshire about the impact of the changes on the industry post-2013, but I want to address a concern about the impact of the proposed payment entitlement scheme, which the FUW brought to my attention. The FUW is concerned that the EU’s abolition of the current payment entitlements held by farmers on 31 December 2013 and its creation of new entitlements based on areas declared on 15 May 2014 will create a reference year. Many farmers are trying to maximise the land they have before that point, and the effects have been noted by many people. There is real concern that the measures will lead to land barracking, which will jeopardise tenant and licensee farmers and create an interest in rental and land values, disrupting the industry as a whole. I concur with the FUW’s concerns that that could restrict and complicate matters, particularly for young people wanting to enter the industry.