SUPPORT FOR HILL FARMERS

That this House opposes the decision of the House of Lords European Union Committee to back European Commission proposals to reform the definition of less favoured areas, which would mean that from 2013 the socio-economic criteria for support would be removed; believes that this would put many upland farmers in a position where they could not receive payments and would therefore endure hardship leading in many cases to people leaving the industry; acknowledges that hill farmers are the guardians of our historic upland landscapes and are the key to the preservation of biodiversity, the management of waterways, the production of food and the delivery of a huge range of environmental benefits; and calls on the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to oppose the removal of the socio-economic criteria and to campaign for fairer support for the UK's hill farmers.