'It is time for the Prime Minister to listen to the people actually producing our food' - Robin Swann calls for 'Fair Deal' for Farmers
South Antrim MP Robin Swann has used his response to the King’s Speech to warn the Government that Northern Ireland’s agricultural industry is being held back by a ‘stranglehold’ of regulation and energy costs.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Swann said: "Every Northern Ireland politician who is worth their salt was at the Balmoral Show last week.
"The continual message was that agriculture in Northern Ireland is being strangled by some of the regulations coming from the European Union, preventing us from bringing forward a truly world-leading agricultural industry."
Mr Swann highlighted the direct impact of energy prices on rural businesses, adding: "On energy, the cost of fuel is impacting heavily on Northern Ireland.
"If Northern Ireland was fully integrated with the GB energy market, we would see a 20% reduction in our electricity bills."
Mr Swann also expressed deep concern that local producers are being forced to shoulder a "dual burden" of costs that their competitors in Great Britain do not face: "The Windsor Framework necessitates the application of the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism on at-risk goods from Great Britain, which effectively creates a carbon border in the Irish Sea that could add up to £200 million in annual trade costs.
"That plethora of additional costs on raw material coming into Northern Ireland is not balanced out when we hear that this Government want to invest in our small businesses.
"They promised a £50 million investment, while at the same time adding costs to power and raw materials."
Following the debate, Mr Swann said: “We have a world-class agri-food sector here, yet the Government is allowing it to be held back by red tape and energy costs that our neighbours in the rest of the UK simply do not have to worry about.
"It is time for the Prime Minister to listen to the people actually producing our food and deliver a reset that finally gives our farmers a fair deal.”