Paul Keetch MP meets National Farmers Union

3.03.08pm GMT Tue 14th Dec 2004

Paul Keetch Liberal Democrat MP for Hereford has met National Farmers Union officials and farmers over problems related to farming. The discussions centred around the Governments "Fallen Stock" and the European Union Sugar Directive.

Mr. Keetch agreed that Government proposals on a new "Fallen Stock" collection scheme would not benefit farmers or the environment he also expressed concern on the cost to farmers of the scheme.

On the proposed new EU Sugar Directive Mr Keetch said that this could see the end of British sugar production. "These new European proposals can only do harm to the world's environment. They will replace sustainable produced UK sugar with unsustainable production in places like Brazil. This will increase so called "food miles" and threaten the already endangered rain forests. Small producers of sugar like Caribbean Islands for example could also be forced out of production. The UK Government must fight this."