§ 23. Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the impact of Government policies on small family farms in Wales. [142024]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI regularly discuss many aspects of agriculture in Wales with my right hon Friend the First Secretary. In recognition of the problems faced by Welsh farmers, the Action Plan for Farming package announced in March promised Wales£14.7 million to less favoured areas;£10.6 million agrimonetary compensation to dairy, beef and sheep farmers and£2 million to be spent on business advice throughout Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This was in addition to HLCA budget increases in 1998–99 and 1999–2000 and several tranches of agrimonetary compensation for high value of pound, paid to beef and sheep sectors since the start of 1998, worth£227 million across the UK. These initiatives are in addition to those being pursued by the Assembly. The 171W First Secretary has stressed that family farming needs to adapt in order to survive, grasping new opportunities underpinned by, for example, the Rural Development Plan, agrifood strategies and expansion of the Tir Gofal scheme.