GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR HILL FARMERS

That this House recognises the very serious situation many farmers in less favoured area are facing in the present time and the vital part they play in the protection of the countryside; welcomes the progress being made towards the lifting of the ban on exports of British beef, the resumption of exports of whole ewe carcasses to France and the provision of a private storage aid scheme for sheepmeat; and calls on the Government to provide what further assistance it properly can in the short term, including considering drawing down further agrimonetary compensation, examining the scope for increasing the rate of the hill livestock compensatory allowance, continuing to work towards reform of the CAP to move away from production support and providing an environmentally and economically sustainable framework for the future of British agriculture.