HC Deb 29 October 1987 vol 121 c405W
Mr. Warren

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the financial problems facing farmers whose farm buildings were uninsured and damaged in the recent hurricane; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor

I made it clear when replying to my Hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Sir G. Johnson Smith) on 22 October that I saw no reason to depart from the principle that farmers normally bear the cost of bad weather and that the Government should not compensate them for such losses—against which the majority would normally be insured. It would not be equitable for the Government to take action to make good insurable losses.