Memorandum submitted by Ms Angela C Smith
MP (CAP 33)
A VISION FOR
THE COMMON
AGRICULTURAL POLICY
1. I have a strong interest in wildlife
and the policies and practices that affect the well being of our
natural environment. With this interest I became chair the All
Party Parliamentary Group on Conservation and Wildlife last year.
2. More than 70% of the UK is managed through
agricultural practices, policies governing agriculture are one
of the most influential factors for the health of our environment
for wildlife, particularly in our countryside. The Common Agricultural
Policy has the most significant influence and impact on wildlife
and conservation and I am keen to see its importance raised amongst
parliamentary colleagues.
3. The All Party Group held a meeting recently
on the future of the CAP and we discussed A Vision for the
Common Agricultural Policy (HM Treasury and Defra, December
2005) which is a key document looking at the future of the CAP
over the next 10 or 15 years. I therefore thought it would be
useful to submit this to your inquiry. Points raised here are
shared by some of my parliamentary colleagues on the All Party
Parliamentary Group including Vice Chairs Peter Bottomley MP,
David Kidney MP and Roger Williams MP.
4. It is widely recognised that agricultural
policies over decades have had negative impacts on wildlife and
the natural environment from the decline in species and loss of
habitats and other damage arising from increased pollution. This
has been recognised in the Vision document (paragraphs
2.39-2.48). This is even more important in the context of climate
change and its impact on our wildlife, and the need to ensure
that land is managed in such a way as to be resilient to this
change. It is important to learn the lessons of the past if there
is greater pressure for growing biofuels such crops should be
located and managed in a way that is sympathetic to the environment.
5. Clearly there have been significant reforms
to the CAP in recent years which have been taken it in a more
sustainable and environmentally favourable direction. Removing
the link between production and subsidy has been a substantial
move in the right direction, as has the increasing emphasis on
the Pillar II element of the Policy which provides support for
public goods. But there is still some way to go before the CAP
is a truly sustainable policy.
6. However, there are shorter term developments—arising
from the EU agreement on the Budget for 2007-13—which should
be considered in this context. I am concerned that there has been
a cut in Pillar II funding as a result of the recent EU agreement
on the Budget for 2007-13. This could mean that funding for some
programmes that have environmental benefits for vulnerable European
habitats and species, are under threat. This should be avoided
wherever possible.
7. The CAP should support agricultural practices
that encouraged a more environmentally friendly, land management
system and recognise the multifunctionality of agriculture. In
the longer term, continued emphasis should be placed on the following:
(a) Spending on agriculture should be made
in return for benefits for the public. These benefits should result
in improvements to wildlife, landscape, land management and the
rural economy generally bearing in mind the new pressures arising
from climate change. It should also apply throughout the countryside
including uplands and lowlands as well as designated and non designated
areas. I therefore support the overall concept behind the Pillar
II element of CAP spending and therefore welcome the commitment
in the Vision that a sustainable CAP would be based on
the current Pillar II (paragraph 1.32).
8. Whilst we do not know the outcome of
the EU spending review in 2008-09 and how CAP spending might be
framed, it is important for agricultural spending to continue
to shift towards the type we currently see in Pillar II of the
CAP
9. In the shorter term:
(a) Pillar II should be substantially enhanced
in the UK by the Government using the voluntary modulation option.
It is important that the Government sends the right signals to
the farming community that this type of support is the way forward.
(b) The UK Government should take the lead
and actively promote and advocate the case for change and the
importance of the Pillar II concept throughout the EU.
May 2006
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