MP Thanks Prince of Wales, asks Government to Follow Suit

3.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 1st Oct 2007

Tim Farron MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming, has thanked the Prince of Wales for his generosity in setting up a £600,000 hardship fund to help those families worst hit by the crisis in British farming caused by the outbreak of Foot and Mouth and Bluetongue diseases.

"This money will make a difference to many families, especially those farming in the uplands whose incomes have been decimated in recent weeks. Many of those families were already in a difficult position, but their plight has become unimaginably worse."

Tim has repeated his call for the Government to provide funding to support farmers at this time.

"The Government should be embarrassed by Prince Charles' generous decision to take a lead. I have asked the Government to double the relatively tiny budget for Hill Farming Allowance (currently standing at £27.2 million) but have yet to hear whether they will agree to my request. Government should also set up a fund to provide vital price support so that farmers can depend on a fair price for their produce once the markets get back up and running."