Dairy Industry

Yes, that is very much the case. However, the point remains that many farmers are fearful, and the commission needs to hear their views. I have put on record that if any farmer wishes to write to the all-party group, we will collate their views, anonymise them and pass them on to the commission. We can act as a conduit between farmers and the commission. I am conscious that others want to speak, so let me raise just a couple of extra issues. The hon. Member for Ceredigion mentioned bovine TB. A few months ago, the Minister kindly met me and a delegation of farmers from my area to discuss the soaring rates of bovine TB in my constituency. He replied to me in writing to confirm that it had gone up significantly—by more than 20 per cent.—in the past year in my constituency and kindly agreed to meet a delegation of local farmers to discuss the issue. I hope that he will be able to give us an update on what the Government will do about bovine TB. I know that the issue is controversial, but I would be grateful for an update. I would also like to raise the case of a constituent, Mr. Chris Balmer from Snailbeach, who has been in the dairy industry for a lifetime, as were his father and grandfather before him. I feel passionately about the case of this one man in the very south of my constituency. He is a small farmer, he lives by himself and he had a terrible case of bovine TB on his farm, but despite my repeated interventions, he has still not had his full Rural Payments Agency payment for last year. In most cases, when the MP intervenes with the RPA’s chief executive in writing or over the telephone—I have telephoned personally and written on many occasions—the issue is usually settled. Indeed, I have intervened in 45, 50 or 60 cases in recent months, and they have been resolved. However, I want to put on record for the Minister that my constituent, Mr. Chris Balmer of Snailbeach, who has had terrible problems with bovine TB, has still not had his full RPA payment for last year. He is an honourable and decent gentleman and he came to me in sheer desperation and frustration—tears were almost coming down his cheeks—because he was at his wits’ end, and I take this opportunity publicly to ask the Minister to intervene on his behalf. The Competition Commission has been mentioned, and I feel a certain frustration and regret at the fact that its report was not published last year. I very much await the publication of its report, which has been delayed on more than one occasion. It is now the commission’s responsibility to come up with a strong critique of what is going on and with serious recommendations to the Government. I look forward to it grasping the nettle, being controversial, putting its head above the parapet and coming up with some constructive, long-term solutions for the Government to implement.