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Clash over foot-and-mouth 'cash' Clash over foot-and-mouth 'cash'
(about 1 hour later)
A row has broken out after the first minister accused the UK Government of withdrawing £8m in support for farmers affected by foot-and-mouth measures. Scotland's first minister has accused the UK Government of withdrawing £8.1m in support for farmers affected by foot-and-mouth measures.
Alex Salmond made the claim at Westminster a day after describing Scotland's allocation of money from the Treasury as a "disgrace". Alex Salmond said he had obtained a Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs paper pledging the sum.
It is thought Scottish Government officials saw a document which offered cash to Scotland for animal welfare. Defra said it would not comment on "leaked" documents or discussions between departments.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has declined to comment. Farmers' leaders said UK ministers have a duty to help those affected by a crisis "not of their own making".
Mr Salmond said that the offer of financial assistance to help farmers hit by animal movement restrictions as a result of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in England has failed to materialise. Speaking at Westminster, Mr Salmond said that the offer of financial assistance to help farmers hit by animal movement restrictions as a result of the outbreak in England had failed to materialise.
He claimed that Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to call an election this year may have resulted in the cash offer being withdrawn.He claimed that Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to call an election this year may have resulted in the cash offer being withdrawn.
'Financial ruin' Scottish farmers will be furious at this disgraceful and disturbing attempt by Defra to renege on their responsibilities First Minister Alex Salmond
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Jim Hume has signed a petition calling on the UK Government to provide financial compensation to all farmers who suffered financial loss in the recent foot-and-mouth outbreak. Mr Salmond said: "Scottish farming faces a crisis which requires immediate action and support.
The South of Scotland MSP said: "Many Scottish farmers are facing financial ruin as a consequence of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth. "The Scottish Government has been working flat out to address this crisis, but the responsibility, and in financial terms the liability, for animal welfare is properly with Defra."
"I want to see a commitment from the Westminster government that Scottish farmers will not be left out of pocket by an outbreak which is not their responsibility. Mr Salmond said that on Friday a "draft copy" of a statement due to be read to the House of Commons by UK Environment Secretary Hilary Benn contained a pledge of £8.1m to Scotland and £6.5m to Wales.
"I have also tabled questions in the Scottish Parliament to ascertain what further action is being considered by the Scottish Government to help farmers." However, he said that on Monday this had changed and while farmers in England were promised £12.5m "any mention of compensation for Scottish or Welsh farmers had been dropped".
Mr Salmond said: "Why, on Friday, when the election seemed certain to be announced, was anything possible, but by Monday, when the election had been ruled out, was the commitment expunged.
"What changed between Friday and Monday?
Mr Salmond says he received a draft copy of a speech
"Scottish farmers will be furious at this disgraceful and disturbing attempt by Defra to renege on their responsibilities. I have written to the prime minister demanding an explanation.?
In a statement, Defra said: "We don't comment on leaked documents or provide an ongoing commentary on discussions with other departments.
"The package for English farmers has been met out of Defra's existing budget.
"However, we do not yet know what the full cost of this outbreak will be or whether this can be met in full by the Defra budget. Scotland and Wales are considering their own measures to assist farmers."
Jim McLaren, President of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland (NFUS), said: "This raises serious questions for the UK Government.
"It is time the UK Government lived up to its responsibility and farmers will be livid if it emerges that the UK Government has been using the financial and welfare catastrophe facing farm businesses as a political football."
Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Jim Hume said: "I want to see a commitment from the Westminster government that Scottish farmers will not be left out of pocket by an outbreak which is not their responsibility."