MP urges Defra presence at Royal Cornwall Show
North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson, has written to new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman, urging her to ensure the Department has a presence at the Royal Cornwall Show.
In congratulating the Secretary of State on her appointment he says, “Since mine is one of the most rural constituencies in the country, I hope we will be able to work together to secure a better deal for rural Britain.
But Mr Rogerson is concerned that Defra may not be at the showground this year. “The show is an immensely important event in the Cornish calendar”, he writes, “and a focal point particularly for the farming community who meet there to seek and to share advice. Defra has since its inception as a Department had a presence at the show, which has been of particular importance in promoting good practice around animal health.”
The North Cornwall MP, who sat on the Select Committee for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the last parliament, said a presence this year would be particularly important since the new Government was to take serious action on Bovine TB.
He has asked the Secretary of State to investigate.
Commenting Mr Rogerson said,
“The Cornish Guild of Smallholders – which provides excellent advice – may be the only stall on hand to offer information on animal health this year.
“That seems to me quite wrong, since this should also be a key function of Defra.
“The Government actually looks as though it may take Bovine TB – and other animal health issues – seriously but to do so, it needs to ensure departmental officials meet with farmers here to discuss the plans with them.
“People here know best as to what is likely to be most effective.
“It will be a very great disappointment – and a mistake – if Defra is not present.”
