Kathy Pollard calls for a fair deal for farmers

1.08.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 22nd Apr 2005

The Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for South Suffolk, Kathy Pollard, is calling for a fair deal for farmers after a visit to an arable farm near Acton. "For every £1 supermarkets charge customers for products, farmers get only 8p," said Mrs. Pollard. "That can't be right. Liberal Democrats would introduce a legal duty to trade fairly, enforced by a Food Trade Inspector within the Office of Fair Trading. This will protect farmers and consumers from unfair practices by supermarkets and processing companies."

Liberal Democrats also want to cut red tape, bureaucracy and over regulation for rural businesses. They have promised no new regulation will be passed until there is a full assessment of its costs and necessity.

Mrs. Pollard also heard concerns about imports of crops for bio-fuels, rather than using British grown crops. "This is an issue I have been promoting at regional level," said Mrs. Pollard, who is Co-Chair of the Regional Europe and International Affairs Panel. "I feel it is important we learn from our European neighbours experiences, so that we can give farmers in Suffolk and the wider region the opportunity to diversify into crops for bio-fuels."