Memorandum submitted by TE Richardson
(RAS 07)
1. As a farmer on a modest acreage for the
past 50 years, I have to question the thinking of the Prime Minister
when, during his Presidency of the EU in May last year, he asked
whether the EU in the 21st century should be spending 10 times
as much on Agriculture, as on Science, technology, research and
development.
2. I can tell the PM that, even with the
existing levels of support, farms of all sizes in the 21st century
are struggling economically.
3. There are 60 million mouths (yes, my
guess is as good as yours!) to be fed three times a day on this
small island, and your cannot eat science, technology or research—important
as they are . . .
4. The very fact that a meagre 2% of the
population manage to produce 70% of the food we eat each day,
is, a near miracle in itself . . . .
5. The CAP acknowledges the importance of
home-produced food to European member nations, for reasons of
strategy and convenience, and yes, cheaper food can be imported—cheaper
because of lower wages and standards in under-developed countries,—but
such prices would kill off UK production—and for some of
us, the memories of war are still sore . . .
6 If we are to rely solely on imports, not
only would our balance of payments suffer, but, just recall what
happened recently in the Ukraine, when neighbouring Russia turned
off their gas supply at the height of winter . . .
7. Can we afford to take such risks with
our food supply . . . ?
8. As to the environmental pollution involved
in conveying all the nation's food to these shores, just does
not bear contemplation.
9. The net result of all this, must be,
to restore Agriculture to its rightful place of prime importance
to the nation, by giving it its own Ministry, as in the past,
a Minister with a seat in the Cabinet.
June 2006
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