Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, suggested last year that the UK’s foreign aid budget might be used to help farmers in the Developing World to improve their animal husbandry techniques so they could trade with the UK.
It appears that the first recommendations of the Trade and Agriculture Commission, due to publish its first report next month, will include similar proposals.
An article published by the ‘Vet Record’ outlines that Tim Smith (the Commission’s Chair) recently suggested that a principle going forward would be; ‘supporting farmers and food producers to grow their businesses, both in the UK and overseas, to ensure that rural economies can continue to prosper.’
This is set against the background of the Government’s decision to cut the foreign aid budget from 0.7% of Gross National Income to 0.5%.
Commenting on this Dr Neil Hudson said:
“It was good to see that the Trade and Agriculture Commission, which was placed on statutory footing last year, have outlined support for farmers overseas as one of the areas they will be covering in their inaugural report. As I have previously suggested, I would like to see the UK’s foreign aid budget used to raise farming standards and consequently food and environmental standards around the world as the UK could be a beacon on this.
I was therefore disappointed to see the Government plans to reduce the International Aid budget as spending a percentage of our national income on aid contributes to the UK’s reputation as a development superpower and helps deliver a more secure and prosperous UK, while having a life-saving impact on the ground. International Aid is not a one-way street and can deliver mutual benefits for both the recipient and provider of aid. I hope the Government eventually decides to keep its aid spending at 0.7% of GDP and I continue to make representations to them on this.”
Please see the article from Vet Record below.