Carmichael calls on DEFRA to set out target for farming growth

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on the government to give an indication of their goals for the share of UK GDP contributed by agriculture in the future. Speaking during a ministerial statement on the government’s new “farming roadmap”, Mr Carmichael also reiterated calls for farming unions in the devolved nations to be involved in the development of policy, and questioned progress on implementation of the farm profitability review.

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, which scrutinises the work of Defra as a department, and its related government agencies.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“I welcome the publication of the farming road map. It may not have been rushed, but it is welcome none the less; all we need now is a revised food strategy, and the Secretary of State’s homework will be up to date.

“Is the implementation of the Batters review still being pursued as a discrete piece of work, or is it being subsumed into the farming road map? In as far as that relates to the operation of the market, why is she not involving farmers’ unions from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

“The Secretary of State refers to DEFRA as a growth Department. Agriculture accounts for 0.6% of UK GDP at the moment, so if we follow the road map and she gives leadership to the industry, what would she want that figure to be in the future?”

Responding for the Government, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds MP said:

“I thank the right hon. Gentleman for marking my homework, and I look forward to having it marked in even more detail when I appear before his Committee. There is a separate document in which we have published our response thematically to the 57 recommendations of Baroness Batters’ profitability review. We are already working closely with the sector to take forward those recommendations. In December, we accepted a number of her recommendations: first, the Farming and Food Partnership Board; secondly, the sector growth plans; and thirdly, the trade missions.

“I suspect that I will be able to answer the right hon. Gentleman’s questions in more detail when I come before the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“If food production and farming is to be a growth industry for the UK – as many of us would hope – then it would be helpful if the government had a plan for delivering that growth, rather than the vague references to “maintaining” food production set out in the roadmap. Countries like New Zealand understand the potential for food production to be a driver of exports and an engine for growth – our government should reflect on that lesson as well.”