Candidate hits out at FFB closure plan

3:45pm Thursday 10th April 2008

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HEREFORD Conservative parliamentary candidate Jesse Norman has slammed Defra for undermining farmers.

He hit out after Defra minister Hilary Benn announced that the funding settlement for Food From Britain (FFB) for 2008/9 would be cut from £4.6 million to £4 million – and the whole enterprise would be shut down by April 2009.

FFB was established in 1983 to provide support and advice to UK growers and food producers to help them expand their business at home and increase export sales.

Commenting on the news, Mr Norman said: “The closure of Food From Britain is another serious and quite unnecessary blow for Britain’s farmers and food producers.

“We should be doing much more to help our food producers to grow and strengthen their businesses – they are the bedrock of our food economy.” 4 Jesse Norman with Coun Philip Price and David Prothero of the Hereford Cattle Society.