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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Clash over foot-and-mouth 'cash' | Clash over foot-and-mouth 'cash' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Scotland's first minister has accused the UK Government of withdrawing £8.1m 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 said he had obtained a Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs paper pledging the sum. | Alex Salmond said he had obtained a Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs paper pledging the sum. |
| Defra said it would not comment on "leaked" documents or discussions between departments. | Defra said it would not comment on "leaked" documents or discussions between departments. |
| UK Environment Secretary Hilary Benn denied that funding was linked to a possible general election campaign. | |
| 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. | 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that Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to call an election this year may have resulted in the cash offer being withdrawn.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that Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to call an election this year may have resulted in the cash offer being withdrawn. |
| Scottish farmers will be furious at this disgraceful and disturbing attempt by Defra to renege on their responsibilities First Minister Alex Salmond | Scottish farmers will be furious at this disgraceful and disturbing attempt by Defra to renege on their responsibilities First Minister Alex Salmond |
| Mr Salmond said: "Scottish farming faces a crisis which requires immediate action and support. | Mr Salmond said: "Scottish farming faces a crisis which requires immediate action and support. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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". | 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. | 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? | "What changed between Friday and Monday? |
| Mr Salmond says he received a draft copy of a speech | 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. | 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. | "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." | "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." |
| Mr Benn emphatically denied accusations by the First Minister that decisions on funding for foot and mouth compensation for farmers were linked to a general election campaign. | |
| 'Serious questions' | |
| Mr Benn said: "There is not a word of truth in the allegation that a possible election had anything to do with decisions on funding for the foot and mouth crisis, and I very much regret that this is being used in this way. | |
| "As we do not yet know what the full cost will be for all of us, we have decided that our existing budgets should carry the cost for the moment. | |
| "Both Defra and the devolved administrations are always able to approach the Treasury once we know what the full picture is.'' | |
| Jim McLaren, President of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland (NFUS), said: "This raises serious questions for the UK Government. | 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." | "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." | 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." |