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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Wildlife groups criticise green farm subsidy move | Wildlife groups criticise green farm subsidy move |
| (17 days later) | |
| Wildlife groups have accused the government of caving in to big farmers over planned changes to farm subsidies in England. | Wildlife groups have accused the government of caving in to big farmers over planned changes to farm subsidies in England. |
| The government proposed increasing the proportion of farm payments transferred to protecting wildlife from 9% to 15%. | The government proposed increasing the proportion of farm payments transferred to protecting wildlife from 9% to 15%. |
| But it backed it down to 12% after farmers said this was not fair. | But it backed it down to 12% after farmers said this was not fair. |
| The government said it would be spending a bigger share on the environment despite a smaller overall budget for subsidies. | The government said it would be spending a bigger share on the environment despite a smaller overall budget for subsidies. |
| Farmers get £50bn of taxpayers' money a year based mainly on the amount of land they own - about £85 an acre - and the EU set out this year to ensure that they earned their grants by protecting the countryside. | |
| Little changed as the plans were fought successfully by farmers across Europe. | Little changed as the plans were fought successfully by farmers across Europe. |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson had said he wanted to make a difference by transferring 15% of grants away from direct payments for farmers and into protecting wildlife and helping the rural economy. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson had said he wanted to make a difference by transferring 15% of grants away from direct payments for farmers and into protecting wildlife and helping the rural economy. |
| The Welsh government has stuck to its plan to take 15% off direct farm payments but the Scottish government has shaved off 9.5%. | The Welsh government has stuck to its plan to take 15% off direct farm payments but the Scottish government has shaved off 9.5%. |
| 'Real benefits' | 'Real benefits' |
| The National Farmers Union (NFU) said most European counterparts were transferring less. | The National Farmers Union (NFU) said most European counterparts were transferring less. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron lowered England's projected wildlife share as well. | Prime Minister David Cameron lowered England's projected wildlife share as well. |
| Farmers were relieved but wildlife groups said a crucial chance to bring birds back to the countryside had been missed. | Farmers were relieved but wildlife groups said a crucial chance to bring birds back to the countryside had been missed. |
| Mr Paterson said: "England's £15bn Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must deliver real benefits to farming, rural businesses, the countryside and the taxpayer. | Mr Paterson said: "England's £15bn Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must deliver real benefits to farming, rural businesses, the countryside and the taxpayer. |
| "Today's decision will see £3.5bn invested in the environment and rural development schemes over the next seven years. | "Today's decision will see £3.5bn invested in the environment and rural development schemes over the next seven years. |
| "This is a significant change in the way we allocate CAP money and even with a smaller overall CAP budget, the government will be spending a bigger share of the budget on the environment than before." | "This is a significant change in the way we allocate CAP money and even with a smaller overall CAP budget, the government will be spending a bigger share of the budget on the environment than before." |
| The NFU lobbied strongly against the maximum cut. But some of its members are unhappy about that stance. | The NFU lobbied strongly against the maximum cut. But some of its members are unhappy about that stance. |
| Georgina Edge farms in Shropshire in a way that encourages wildlife. She claims to have three times more bird species on her land than on any neighbouring farm. | Georgina Edge farms in Shropshire in a way that encourages wildlife. She claims to have three times more bird species on her land than on any neighbouring farm. |
| She told BBC News: "Our farm can't make a profit unless we are rewarded for wildlife and if the NFU has undermined that it won't be acting in my interest." | She told BBC News: "Our farm can't make a profit unless we are rewarded for wildlife and if the NFU has undermined that it won't be acting in my interest." |
| Mike Clarke from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said: "The deal falls short of what nature needs. The government has made its job of meeting its own environmental commitments harder." | Mike Clarke from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said: "The deal falls short of what nature needs. The government has made its job of meeting its own environmental commitments harder." |
| The RSPB did say though that the government had planted the seeds for recovery of some threatened species. | The RSPB did say though that the government had planted the seeds for recovery of some threatened species. |
| Friends of the Earth's Paul de Zylva accused the government of short changing taxpayers. | Friends of the Earth's Paul de Zylva accused the government of short changing taxpayers. |
| "Farmers already pocket huge amounts of cash without having to farm in ways that reduce their effect on wildlife, water and soils," he said. | "Farmers already pocket huge amounts of cash without having to farm in ways that reduce their effect on wildlife, water and soils," he said. |
| The NFU's Meurig Raymond said:"I am delighted the environment secretary has decided to keep modulation (grant-switching) below the maximum level." | The NFU's Meurig Raymond said:"I am delighted the environment secretary has decided to keep modulation (grant-switching) below the maximum level." |
| The Tenant Farmers' Association chairman Jeremy Walker added: "This shows the benefit of industry lobbying." | The Tenant Farmers' Association chairman Jeremy Walker added: "This shows the benefit of industry lobbying." |
| A clause in the document will force the issue to resurface after four years when the proposal for taking the full 15% will be reviewed. | A clause in the document will force the issue to resurface after four years when the proposal for taking the full 15% will be reviewed. |
| Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin | Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin |