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More help needed for hill farmers
February 8, 2008 11:53 PM
Commenting on today's announcement by Defra that the Hill Farm Allowance will be boosted by 6%, Liberal Democrat Countryside Spokesperson, Tim Farron said:
"This is welcome news, but 6% is nowhere near enough to help farmers struggling in Severely Disadvantaged Areas.
"Hill farming delivers huge environmental benefits to upland areas, such as maintaining biodiversity, preserving land and maintaining the aesthetic beauty of our landscape.
"The Liberal Democrats would review the level of the Hill Farming Allowance currently paid in order to recognise the valuable contribution that these farmers make to our countryside."
Hexham Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate, Andrew Duffield added:
"Of course, as a party Liberal Democrats are opposed to subsidised agriculture and all other forms of economic subsidy, which only create market distortions and cause longer term economic damage at home and abroad.
"Our hill farmers should not have to rely on pitiful hand-outs from DEFRA or anyone else. I will continue to campaign for the Liberal Democrat goal of raising the income tax starting threshold for low paid farmers and for other workers as a sustainable alternative to subsidies.
"The Liberal Democrats are already committed to reducing basic rate income tax by 4p to 16%. I want us to shave off another penny and bring VAT down to 15% too. Reducing regressive taxes in this way would help hill farmers and other entrepreneurs at the economic margin more than any subsidy could ever do."
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