The other day, the BBC drew our attention to the €zillions of taxpayer cash that the EU continues to lavishe on large land owners through the completely bonkers (a kind word) Common Agricultural Policy. At least the UK is clear(ish) about who gets how much of the £3 billion on offer within the country. The BBC says that prominent amounts beneficiaries are the National Trust [ £8,056,505 ] and the RSPB [ £3,584,032 ], and notes that:
"Two ministers in the government's environment department, Defra, receive farm subsidies. Lord Gardiner of Kimble declares an interest as a partner in CM Robarts & Son, (SIC) which nets £45,479.19 in direct payments. George Eustice is a director of a Cornish farm receiving £2,313. A Defra spokesman said Mr Eustice and Lord Gardiner had properly declared potential conflicts of interest and both had been cleared for discussions on the future of farm grants."
The report ends:
"The Treasury has already guaranteed direct payments for land ownership until 2020, although to the dismay of conservation groups has not committed to continue funding wildlife protection on farms. The Tenant Farmers' Association wants to keep the £3bn total subsidies but split the cash between enhancing the environment, creating infrastructure to develop farm businesses, and public funding to promote British food. The Country Landowners Association seems to think reform is inevitable. Its spokesman Christopher Price said:
"Brexit has given us the opportunity to develop a new food, farming and environmental policy which can deliver even greater benefits for the natural world".
The farmers' union, the NFU, did not comment when asked if it accepted reform of the grants system was now inevitable. Many environment groups believe reform of the labyrinthine grants system is beyond the capacity of Defra, which has lost many staff in recent savings. They want a broadly based commission to outline how much the government needs to spend on farming to meet the objectives of its 25-year plan to protect the environment."
What an opportunity to sort all this out to the benefit of nature and people. What a wonderful teaching opportunity as well.
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