Memorandum submitted by Plantlife (X10)
STATEMENT BY
THE AGRICULTURE
MINISTER—7 DECEMBER
1999
Plantlife is Britain's only membership charity
dedicated exclusively to the conservation of wild plants and their
habitats. Plantlife's membership of over 11,000 reflects the concern
people have in all parts of the country for the conservation of
our wild flora.
Plantlife strongly supports the Minister's decision
to make a major switch of farm spending from production subsidies
towards support for the broader economy of the countryside, including
the protection, enhancement and restoration of the rural environment.
The decision recognises that farmers are not simply producers
of food, and we welcome the shift of emphasis towards agri-environment,
organic farming, improved marketing and processing of agricultural
products, training and environmental land management skills. This
new direction is the right one for farming, the countryside and
taxpayers.
Plantlife welcomes the announcement that £1.6
billion has been secured for funding of the Rural Development
Regulation over the next seven years. This represents a significant
and very important first step in funding the new direction for
UK farming. We welcome the decision to use modulation as a means
of boosting the EU funds available for the accompanying measures
under the RDR. The £500 million to be put into the Countryside
Stewardship Scheme represents a particularly welcome cash injection
for wildlife conservation. However, more resources will be needed
in order to meet the increased demands for the schemes and initiatives
under the RDR.
Plantlife broadly welcomes the proposals for
the Hill Farming Allowance (HFA) scheme as set out in the consultation
document. In general we feel that the proposals are very positive
and are consistent with the new direction for agriculture announced
by the Minister. We strongly agree with the objectives of the
HFA scheme, particularly the aim to ensure that land in the Less
Favoured Areas (LFAs) is managed sustainably. It is essential
that the aim of achieving environmental benefits remains central
to the HFA scheme and that proposals to deliver this objective
are not watered down in any way.
11 February 2000
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