It was reported this morning on "Farming Today" on Radio 4 that the Treasury has withdrawn £305 million from one of its emergency funds to cover the fine DEFRA will be liable for due to late payment of farm subsidies.
The fine had originally been thought to be £120 million. It is not clear whether the extra amount is due to EU levying a heavier fine than expected, or to the problem extending over another fiscal year. It is also not clear whether DEFRA still intends to find the whole amount of the fine from within its existing budgets. Presumably, if it does, there will be another round of savage cuts to other DEFRA components, such as waterways. The person making the announcement was the Minister of (certainly not "for", as this would imply he was a supporter) Waterways Barry Gardiner. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
