Following the announcement this morning that pilot culls will go ahead in the regions of West Gloucestershire and West Somerset, which Defra said have been chosen from a shortlist proposed by the farming industry, Defra ministers have faced questions on the department’s whole remit in the House of Commons.

The plans were formally announced by Farming Minister Jim Paice earlier today, after having been leaked to a regional newspaper earlier in the week. Mr Paice said that farmers in the identified areas can now apply for licenses to shoot badgers. However, there will be a consultation process within the communities before killing begins after the Olympics.

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One MP asked what the government planned to do to appease local communities in light of the “Widespread opposition in the South West, not least because the scientific evidence suggests they will be ineffective.” She asked whether Defra could offer any assurances that the public’s views will be taken into account, to which Jim Paice replied that Natural England will hold consultations in the communities where the pilot culls are set to take place.

House of Commons questions turn to CAP reform

When asked about the implications of reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy for farmers in less favoured areas, particularly in the devolved nations, farming minister Jim Paice reiterated that the government supports a move towards an area based-system, but said that Defra ministers would be negotiating on behalf of the whole of the UK to “Ensure reforms benefit farmers and taxpayers.” However, he said he could not make assurances on the outcome of the reform process, as negotiations are ongoing.

The ministers attempted to explain their decision not to support a more egalitarian distribution of the CAP, which has been criticised for allocating large sums of money to wealthy landowners including Tate and Lyle and the Royal Family at the expense of smaller farmers. Ministers claimed that a cap on payments would merely lead large landowners to break up their businesses causing confusion without any discernable benefit.

Ms Spelman also returned to her “Made in Britain Brand”, which she first mentioned at the Oxford Farming Conference earlier in the year. She revealed that in March the government will be holding a symposium on “innovation for growth” in agrifood and said that invitations for the event have already gone out. However, the government’s approach to innovation and consultation came under criticism at the OFC and the Real Farming Conference earlier this month; ministers were reprimanded for only engaging with corporate or large-scale stakeholders, and ignoring smaller, often more responsive and genuinely innovative groups.

Andrew George MP suggested the government’s position on CAP and attitude to business would move the UK towards “ranch and prairie wastelands” as smaller producers were pushed out of the agriculture sector.

The debate in the Commons comes as Agriculture ministers from Northern Ireland meet their opposite numbers from the Republic to continue discussions over CAP reform. Having met in November, the groups have agreed to work closely on issues of common interest.   

Spelman continues “drive for exports”

Continuing to push the concept of a “Made in Britain Label”, Spelman said that amongst her priorities was supporting British producers in increasing exports outside of Europe to emerging markets in Russia, China, India. She said the department would be helping businesses in the food and drink sector towards successes in seeking new export markets.

However, the Defra ministers were criticised by Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh for failing to support British agriculture. Defra sources 18 per cent of its food from UK producers, although the House of Commons allegedly sources nearer to 90 per cent. Last year, an NGO investigation revealed that fast food chain McDonalds demanded higher standards from its suppliers than government departments.

Spelman said her department’s wretched record on food sourcing was down to World Trade Organisation law; she said that the government could only guarantee that food was produced to British standards, not country of origin, as WTO rules state that the department cannot favour British food over other produce. Spelman retorted that Ms Creagh was overlooking “The importance of our drive on exports.”

The ministers declined to do more than reiterate support for the GSCOP adjudicator, a role the government has promised to create to ensure farmers are not abused by the retailers they supply. However, vital powers have been stripped from the ombudsperson since the position was first proposed. Ministers did not comment further on the ombudsperson despite demands for assurances from MPs concerned about the squeeze their local farmers are feeling at the hands of large retailers.

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