Chris Huhne
Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh
FARM PAYMENT TARGET MUST BE MINIMUM THRESHOLD – HUHNE
Responding to David Miliband’s single farm payment statement announcing 50% part payments from mid-February, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:
“The Government is right not to make promises it can’t meet – as it did last year.
“However, today’s target falls well short of what farmers in England deserve and what farmers across the rest of Europe will get. It must be treated as a minimum threshold not a glass ceiling.
“The admission that EU payment deadlines are likely to be missed yet again raises the spectre of EU fines and further budget cuts by Defra.
“After this year’s absurd cuts to flood defences and animal disease budgets, it is essential the Government pledges to cover any further fines with contingency funds.”