APPENDIX 10
Memorandum submitted by Mr GL Armstrong
(E13)
As a livestock farmer in Cumbria, I feel I must
respond to your invitation to give evidence regarding the performance
of MAFF Regional Service Centres. I also comment as a farmers'
leader and I have no doubt I will have the support of most of
the farming community when I say that Carlisle RSC gives an excellent
service. This has become ever more important to a livestock county
like Cumbria during these extremely difficult and changing times.
Given the isolated conditions and the over bureaucratic
schemes that farmers have to cope with, it is essential that they
have somewhere to turn to, not just for advice, but also for understanding.
The modern trend towards call centres may be right in some cases
but it cannot replace the face to face contact and help provided
by knowledgeable RSC staff. In the recent Downing Street Summit
the prime minister said: "Farming and food needs a strong
Government department, led by a cabinet minister, to make the
strategy for agriculture a success". I agree with him and
the best way to create the interface between Government and producers
is with an effective distribution of RSCs.
I need hardly point out that in the current
climate, farmers in general feel unloved and to remove the best
form of help and advice they have would lead to even more despair.
Of course MAFF's presence in Carlisle is important for other reasons.
It creates approximately 240 jobs. With the movement away from
manufacturing and towards service industry it is essential that
all regions of the Country are given employment opportunities.
Areas around, and in Carlisle, have suffered badly as a result
of the downturn in agriculture and desperately need to retain
these service sector opportunities.
Despite what some academics and economists may
say, UK agriculture will not survive in the foreseeable future
without support. The way it is delivered may change however, especially
under the proposed Rural Development Regulation which means that
while job descriptions may change, people with local knowledge
and culture will still be needed to deliver it.
Finally, it is worth repeating that the county
of Cumbria plays a major role within UK agricultural production
and livestock farming contributes enormously to the economy of
Carlisle and its surrounding areas. EdenBridge House helps to
make this happen and in fact is the lead region in the development
of the new Hill Farming Allowance Scheme. This kind of expertise
should be rewarded with further inward investment to complement
the natural resources of the county.
May 2000
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