GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE FULL DETAILS OF HOW COMPENSATION SCHEME WILL WORK - WILLIAMS

During Business Questions today in the House of Commons, Lib Dem Roger Williams MP spokesperson for Food and Rural Affairs, called on the Leader of the House to ensure that Hilary Benn attended the House of Commons and made clear how the compensation for Foot and Mouth in Wales was going to be funded. Roger Williams MP said:

“Hilary Benn has said that it must be funded by the devolved administrations and Elin Jones, Minister responsible in Wales, says she believes it should be funded by DEFRA.

“It is absolute chaos and an affront to the farming community in Wales. More than that there was a suggestion that the funding had been pulled when the election was cancelled.

“I believe that polluters should pay and in this case the polluter is DEFRA who allowed the virus to escape from Pirbright.

“The Leader of the House was confused but in the end agreed to come back to me with an explanation.”