Memorandum by Mr Andrew Brown
I would like to give evidence to your Committee
regarding the future of the CAP.
The long term objectives of the CAP should be
to provide the residents of the EU with a sustainable, affordable,
secure and if necessary self sufficient food supply. This can
only happen if we stop the haemorrhaging of agricultural land
and labour away form the industry and into the hands of wealthy
city folk, who see the countryside as a playground rather than
a place to provide food.
The 2003 reforms have meant that many farmers
have effectively been able to mothball or retire completely from
farming, but still collect large amounts of EU money. This means
we are losing critical mass and there will be a point fairly soon
where it will take many years to get back up to speed. We still
see the largest land owners receiving the greatest amount of money
and the smaller family farms, which are the back bone of local
communities being squeezed. The market place does not give a big
enough return to make the vast majority of farms viable, we therefore
see 90% of farmers using their SFP to subsidise their businesses.
As the historic element of the SFP diminishes we will see the
livestock sector virtually disappear in the UK and the face of
Britain will change dramatically.
The Single Payment System need radically overhauling
so that it gets the money and support to the small and medium
sized farms which make up the majority of the sector. The average
being around 100 Ha. All payments across the EU need to be made
within the same month or there is no level playing field. England
is currently running 5-6 months behind all other countries with
payments. How can we compete if our neighbours can restock and
reinvest so much earlier?
To combat climate change the CAP can help by
incentivising farmers to grow energy crops, but not allowing the
processors to cream off large parts of the subsidy as is currently
the case. For example the 45 Euro/Ha energy crops payment is halved
by the processors taking 22.5 Euros in an administration charge,
this cannot be right.
Farmers who farm in an environmentally friendly
and carbon neutral way should be rewarded with either an extra
payment or those who don't should be penalised.
Farmers and land managers are the key to the
climate change problem and need to be rewarded or incentivised
for mitigating carbon emissions.
EU enlargement has seen several almost third
World countries join, whose agricultural systems are 50 years
behind ours. This will take many years and vast sums of money
to redress, and with such a leviathan as the CAP the opportunities
for corruption and abuse are enormous. We may see huge black holes
appear which will devour massive sums of EU money to fund Eastern
European gangs.
Any level of EU modulation must be the same
across all countries or it is not fair. National modulation should
not be allowed, as it distorts the process. Rural development
is all well and good but it needs very close monitoring or we
will see money that is meant for agriculture going to projects
completely unrelated to it. Such as rethatching bus shelters.
This money may also fall into the hands of very wealthy hobby
farmers who have no need for it. I think there is a case for means
testing to be brought in for this money.
These are a few of my thoughts on this matter,
if you wish me to enlighten the Committee further please do not
hesitate to contact me.
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