PM quizzed on 300 million EU fine and corruption

The following is from Hansard: Mr. Michael Jack (Fylde) (Con): The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs faces a £300 million fine from Brussels, 25,000 single farm payment claims remain unresolved, the policy on bovine TB is, as yet, unresolved, and the Department’s 7 Mar 2007 : Column 1517 budget has been cut by £200 million. May I therefore ask the Prime Minister why the House has not been given the opportunity to debate those matters, bearing in mind that the last agriculture debate was in December 2002? The Prime Minister: I am sure that there will be opportunities for people to raise and debate those issues. We are well aware of the problems that have arisen over payments to farmers, however, and we have said on many occasions that we are doing all that we can to speed up that system. We are not in a position of difficulty with the European Commission. It is also correct that there will be enormous budget pressures on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other Departments. Pressure on the budget of DEFRA cannot be helped by having to bear such a huge fine levied as a direct result of the Government's own inefficiencies. Why is such incompetence receiving no media coverage? Like the scandals regarding party funding raised in an earlier question to the PM: 7 Mar 2007 : Column 1515

Q5. [125433] Richard Ottaway (Croydon, South) (Con): Does the Prime Minister agree that voting in a £10,000 communication allowance for incumbent MPs out of taxpayers’ money, without the support of the Opposition, while at the same time lobbying Sir Hayden Phillips to limit the private funding of candidates in those incumbent seats, is nothing short of an abuse of power bordering on corruption?

The Prime Minister: As I understand it from my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, the matter is discussed in the House of Commons Commission and it will come before the House at the end of the month. I am sure that my right hon. Friend will put forward proposals that are just and fair.