Environment, Food and Rural Affairs CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Christine Beaumont-Rydings

1. My concern is with the farming community and the high incidence of depression and sadly suicide with those communities, especially farmers. Since the work is gruelling and little sleep afforded, it is small wonder that financial worries are paramount.

2. I have long advocated apprenticeships in the environment businesses as well as those in business and service industries. Since generally their families, as well as the farmers, are under stress and the realisation that they are aging and less able physically to complete tasks, should we not be encouraging the uptake of land management and farming skills?

3. With the payment of CAP which should be as generous in EU countries, be shared equally with British farmers, would it then be easier to encourage apprenticeships? I advocate government sponsorship of the student. I believe this would benefit all sides by:

4. Employing young people (a priority government policy at the moment) in a meaningful and self respect initiative.

5. Pay them a wage instead of benefits, which with added administrations, make it more expensive for the government.

6. Pay the farmers equal payments to other members of the EU allowing for cost of living rises.

7. Ease financial and physical burdens on farming communities.

8. Ease the workload on the farmer and families.

9. Provide a more secure outlook especially as they age.

10. Secure arable land and produce for expanding population.

11. Encourage take up of farming.

12. Lessen the likelihood of depressive illnesses. And health services needed and financial costs of that service to be better spent on prevention of stressors as listed above.

13. Overall cost effective. Encourages intergenerational working and respect with added considerations for societal benefit.

14. Improve expectations. Improve morale of young and older workers. Maintain a healthy farming industry and with alongside land management/horticultural training at various ability levels improve working practises. Improve food output and good land maintenance and drainage, especially in high flood areas.

15. On an important business perception of British farming restore confidence abroad in farming produce. And financially not only improve the life of those people and animals but raise revenue back for the government—to use on CAP payments!

16. A more intelligent policy of long term thinking rather than short term policies which end up far more expensive.

September 2013