SINGLE FARM PAYMENT

Early day motion 64, tabled 23 November 2004 by James Paice (Conservative). Signed by 59 members.

That this House supports the principle of decoupling farm subsidies from production and the move to a single farm payment (SFP), but notes that the Government's cross-compliance rules with which farmers must comply to receive the SFP are more stringent than elsewhere in Europe; notes that the Government has still not announced the rules on many aspects of the SFP; further notes that crop yields and livelihoods will be compromised as a result of certain cross-compliance conditions; believes that many of the conditions belong in voluntary agri-environment schemes where they could be targeted to areas of greatest environmental need; and calls on the Government to minimise the burden on farmers by striking a fairer balance between the realities of farming and the requirements of the EU.

Signatures by party: Conservative 52, Liberal Democrat 2, Independent Conservative 1, Labour 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.