HC Deb 16 September 2004 vol 424 c1668WS
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received from(a) farmers in the Vale of York and(b) farmers elsewhere in England regarding the impact of the bad weather in August on the harvest; and what measures her Department proposes to take to alleviate the situation. [187560]

Alun Michael

The Department has received representations from farming interests and Defra officials had a detailed meeting with representatives of the NFU. It is clear that there have been difficulties during one of the wettest harvest periods on record particularly in some parts of the country. However, it was agreed at the meeting that the position is still evolving and it would not be possible to establish an overall position um it there is a fuller picture to establish whether any measures to alleviate the situation would be warranted. The Department is in close touch with the industry and the EU Commission on this issue.

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