GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR FARMERS

That this House recognises the increasing pressure on farmers as a result of falling farm-gate prices, oversupply of dairy products in the international market, challenging weather conditions and a decreased EU budget; notes the particular challenges facing the dairy sector with the price of milk having fallen by 26 per cent over the past 30 months; regrets that the Government did not join other Member States in calling for further aid ahead of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in March; welcomes the package of measures announced by the European Commission which incudes allowing Member States to provide up to €15,000 per farmer per year without falling foul of state aid rules; and calls on the Government to take advantage of the new package and provide the full amount of funding to farmers across the UK.