MP CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO PAY SINGLE FARM PAYMENTS UP FRONT

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 16th Sep 2007

'Everything should be done to stop farmers going to the wall over Foot and Mouth' - Farron

Local MP, and chair of the All-party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming, Tim Farron, has called on the Government to pay this year's Single Farm Payments up front. Speaking from his party conference in Brighton, Mr Farron said that the up front payments were necessary to prevent farmers going out of business following this summer's outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease.

"Many local farmers will find themselves struggling financially this autumn and winter because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak," said Mr Farron. "The cost of feeding animals which would otherwise have been sold, together with lower prices once markets can reopen will place a huge burden on the farming industry. Especially considering that this outbreak had its source at the Government's own laboratories, they should do the decent thing, and bring forward this year's Single Farm Payments."