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Farmers' £8.8m compensation deal | Farmers' £8.8m compensation deal |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Sheep farmers in Wales will receive £8.8m to cope with the effects of last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak in England, it has been announced. | Sheep farmers in Wales will receive £8.8m to cope with the effects of last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak in England, it has been announced. |
Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones told AMs it brought the total support provided to farmers to £13m. | Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones told AMs it brought the total support provided to farmers to £13m. |
She said Welsh ministers would continue to press the UK Government to give farming across Britain further help. | She said Welsh ministers would continue to press the UK Government to give farming across Britain further help. |
But the Conservatives said the Labour-Plaid administration had "turned their backs" on Welsh farmers. | But the Conservatives said the Labour-Plaid administration had "turned their backs" on Welsh farmers. |
Ms Jones said the deal was based on careful analysis of all the available data and that the money had been found from areas of underspending in her department. | Ms Jones said the deal was based on careful analysis of all the available data and that the money had been found from areas of underspending in her department. |
"I have consistently said that the Welsh Assembly Government will do all within its power to support rural Wales and the agriculture industry and today's announcement highlights that commitment," she said. | "I have consistently said that the Welsh Assembly Government will do all within its power to support rural Wales and the agriculture industry and today's announcement highlights that commitment," she said. |
The financial package will need to satisfy the European Commission that it meets state aid rules. | The financial package will need to satisfy the European Commission that it meets state aid rules. |
The assembly government estimates the cost of the outbreak in England to Wales to be £21m, £19.6m of that in the sheep sector. | The assembly government estimates the cost of the outbreak in England to Wales to be £21m, £19.6m of that in the sheep sector. |
But the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Wales has put the cost at more than £40m. | But the National Farmers' Union (NFU) Wales has put the cost at more than £40m. |
A similar aid package for farmers in England was worth £ 8.5 million while the Scottish Government announced a £26m deal for its farmers last October. | A similar aid package for farmers in England was worth £ 8.5 million while the Scottish Government announced a £26m deal for its farmers last October. |
'Bitterly betrayed' | 'Bitterly betrayed' |
Conservative rural affairs spokesman Brynle Williams said the cash Welsh farmers could expect was "nowhere near enough". | Conservative rural affairs spokesman Brynle Williams said the cash Welsh farmers could expect was "nowhere near enough". |
"This is a total disgrace, and farmers across Wales will have every right to feel bitterly betrayed by the Labour-Plaid administration," he said. | "This is a total disgrace, and farmers across Wales will have every right to feel bitterly betrayed by the Labour-Plaid administration," he said. |
"How the rural affairs minister can call this a substantial aid package is beyond me," he added. | "How the rural affairs minister can call this a substantial aid package is beyond me," he added. |
The foot-and-mouth outbreak was discovered in Surrey in August 2007. | The foot-and-mouth outbreak was discovered in Surrey in August 2007. |
There were no cases in Wales but restrictions were placed on the movement and trade of animals across the UK following the August outbreak and a second one in September. | There were no cases in Wales but restrictions were placed on the movement and trade of animals across the UK following the August outbreak and a second one in September. |
Farmers in Wales did not automatically receive compensation because no animals were slaughtered due to the disease. | Farmers in Wales did not automatically receive compensation because no animals were slaughtered due to the disease. |
The restrictions meant animals could not be sent to the abattoir which lead to a loss of income and the additional cost of feed. | The restrictions meant animals could not be sent to the abattoir which lead to a loss of income and the additional cost of feed. |