Government 'must deliver' on election promises

The National Sheep Association (NSA) called on the Prime Minister to take immediate action to unify the nation and deliver on the promises made.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: “For the last three years we have been left in limbo waiting for one thing or another to happen, crippled by indecision and with a seriously divided society. But having reached the end of this General Election period, with a returned Prime Minister holding the strongest mandate this country has seen in decades, we can be sure that at least the first layer of uncertainty has been removed.

"We cannot allow our future to be based on one side winning and one losing and if the new Government wants to live up to its strapline of a one nation Government it will need to demonstrate that we are all equal stakeholders in our future.”

The NSA said that during the course of the General Election campaign, the Prime Minister repeatedly made promises and assurances about Brexit, and the NSA will do everything it can, working with others where beneficial, to hold the Government to account and provide security for the British sheep industry.

Mr Stocker said: “As far as the sheep industry is concerned the best thing we can do is accept the nation's decision and move forward.

"We have some strong assurances from the Prime Minister; that a no deal at the end of 2020 should not be feared because a free-trade deal with the EU can be reached by the end of 2020; that no restrictions/hurdles/paperwork will be needed relating to movement of goods between our mainland and Northern Ireland; and that British farmers will be protected from lower standard and cheaper products entering the UK market.

"The country has put its trust in the prime minister and his Government to deliver on these and other crucial promises and NSA will play its part in ensuring these promises are fulfilled. We expect the Agriculture Bill, the Environment Bill, and the Food Plan to quickly come back to the table in a co-ordinated way that offers a secure future for our farmers”

NSA is emphasising the importance of avoiding any future ‘cliff-edge scenario’. Mr Stocker explained: “Our industry is resilient, as we have proved this year having thrived despite the uncertainty, but we cannot keep going on this way. A clear plan and agenda must now be set by Mr Johnson, with the fall-back assurance of contingency support if the Government fails to achieve its objectives.”

In order to allow for this to happen NSA is appealing to the Prime Minister for continuity in our Farming and related Ministers and to act quickly in any reshuffle he may now wish to do. “Over the years we have built up good relationships with incumbent Ministers and have been able to support their work in a way that helps farmers. Any reshuffle should be done quickly with a requirement that engagement and relationship building with industry be a priority,” Mr Stocker adds.

While NSA is insistent that key promises must be met there are still outstanding proposals that have not been adequately discussed and are completely lacking in practical sense. NSA will shortly be contacting the Prime Minister and Defra Ministers to demand proper debate around our concerns.

Mr Stocker said: “Shortly before the election there was talk of a policy that would limit farmers to only selling stock to their most local abattoir. Our letter to Secretary of State Theresa Villiers received a completely inadequate response and this, along with announcements about a blanket ban on live exports is irrational and would lead to outcomes completely opposite to that intended. We have seen good examples where Government and industry can work together for shared objectives but we need to see consistency in this approach across all decision-making.”

Dr Judith Bryans, chief executive of Dairy UK, said: “Dairy UK looks forward to working closely with the new Government during the course of this Parliament.

“As the biggest agricultural sector and the makers of some of the nation's most-loved products, the dairy sector will be looking to Government to ensure its voice is heard in the Brexit process and on the future trade arrangements between the UK and the EU.

"We also ask that the dairy sector is actively involved in trade policy related to the development of new free-trade agreements.

“Moreover, it is key that Government recognises the need for close collaboration with the dairy sector on all future arrangements relating to the Northern Ireland protocol.

“We also look forward to working constructively with Government on the development of the new Agriculture and Environment Bills.”

Animal health and welfare should be at the heart of the new Government’s commitment to lead the world in its quality of food and agriculture, said NOAH (National Office of Animal Health).

Dawn Howard, chief executive of NOAH, said: “In order to achieve the excellence in animal health this commitment demands, our sector’s needs must be recognised as we leave the EU and negotiate our future relationship with the EU and beyond.

“Our priority is a vibrant and innovative UK animal health sector, encouraging the development of new and improved animal health products and services. The UK is in a strong position to be a global centre of excellence for animal medicines – part of any leading life sciences global hub, supporting both cutting edge product developments and a regulatory model to benefit our national and international trade.

“We are, quite rightly, a highly regulated industry. All animal medicines undergo strict scientific assessment before they can be placed on the market and sold. EU Exit means that a robust, sensible and proportionate UK regulatory system firmly based on internationally recognised science and technical expertise, is more important than ever. Parliamentary time will be needed to allow our regulations to be reviewed and help ensure opportunities that EU Exit may present come to fruition.

“Our industry underpins so much that is valued in British society. In everything we and our members do at NOAH, we aim to improve the lives of animals through encouraging responsible farming and pet ownership and promoting the safe and responsible use of medicines.”

She explained: “The UK has a key role to play on the world stage in tackling the One Health challenges that face us all. But this starts at home with the interconnection of the health and wellbeing of people, animals and the environment. We need a collaborative approach to tackling issues as varied as antimicrobial resistance, improving vaccination rates and improving mental health and wellbeing.

“The successful development and delivery of future UK animal health and welfare policy will require industry and Government to rise to the challenge together. The animal health sector is committed to supporting the provision of safe, healthy, affordable food for all and in enabling healthy animals to play their part in our society”, Dawn said. “We look forward to supporting the new Government towards this end.”

A national body concerned with flood management said it is looking for the new Government to significantly strengthen its position towards the careful but essential maintenance and management of our rivers.

ADA, the representative body for drainage, water level and flood-risk management authorities, has provided political leaders with seven key policy pointers to help reduce the impacts of flood-risk and deliver effective water level management.

ADA chief executive Innes Thomson says, “We welcome the new government and look forward to working with them, alongside risk management authorities and other stakeholders, to help manage flood-risk and deliver water management solutions.

“We have already highlighted the need for a fundamental shift in the government’s approach to dealing with flooding and drought, and now is the time to grasp the opportunity to help better protect people, property and farmland,” he adds.

In particular, ADA calls for funding and policy rule changes to avoid leaving communities, farms and villages undefended, isolated and unsupported. Allied to this, there is a key need to discuss the controlled storage of water on land and provide the right incentives to landowners and farmers.

“Crucially, local Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) can play a significant role in assisting on how farmland can be used to trap, store and evacuate flood water, with the right infrastructure in place,” continues Mr Thomson.

“This infrastructure, such as adapting pumping stations or installing temporary pumps to evacuate water post-event, is critical and in our lowland areas could be reasonably operated and maintained by local IDBs,” adds Mr Thomson.

ADA also calls for a government flood policy and funding that can support conveyance and resilient river embankments which control water in lowland watercourses.

Mr Thomson says, “Conveyance is a broader topic than simply dredging. It also includes aquatic and vegetation control within the river and its banks, and the stability of the banks themselves. Removing targeted constrictions in lowland rivers must also be undertaken where there are obvious adverse effects on river flows.”

ADA insists all measures must be part of a catchment approach to flood resilience, working alongside SuDS (sustainable drainage systems), soil management, traditional defences, upstream attenuation, flood storage areas or washlands, and slow the flow initiatives.

Mr Thomson concludes: “With the help of new policies and strengthened flood risk strategy, ADA will work to help and ensure that all parties fully understand and engage with the issues facing the flood and water level management sector in a post-Brexit environment.”