Farming leader seeks answers on budget-cut department’s spending plans

Mr Eustice is due to deliver a speech at the Northern Farming Conference alongside a panel of farmers, academics and finance experts at Hexham Auction Mart.

It comes in the same week as the Chancellor announced a budget cut of up to 30 per cent to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs over the next four years, a move which National Farmers’ Union leader Meurig Raymond fears will damage front line delivery services.

Mr Raymond said: “Our priority is for farming businesses to be productive and profitable and we are concerned that cuts of up to 30 per cent could damage front line delivery services that underpin this aim. That is why we believe that Defra should first seek savings in ‘back office’ functions rather than reducing spending on areas that are key to our members, such as animal health, flood protection and a fully functioning Rural Payments system.

“The NFU also have concerns about cost recovery - if this simply means paying for the continuation of services that could be delivered more effectively and efficiently.

“We believe that there is scope for some services, including some provided by agencies such as the Environment Agency, to be delivered more cost-effectively by other providers.”

He said he planned to meet with Ministers as soon as possible to understand how this announcement will impact farmers.