The Garden of England MUST be saved

HUGH ROBERTSON ATTACKS MINISTER FOR DISGRACEFUL INDIFFERENCE OVER FRUIT FARMING

Hugh Robertson, Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Fruit Group, has attacked DEFRA Minister Ben Bradshaw for his disgraceful indifference to the plight of fruit farmers. The attack follows an exchange at DEFRA Questions which is reproduced from Hansard below. Hugh's question had to be tacked onto another one on trees under Commons procedures.

Hugh Robertson (Faversham and Mid-Kent) (Con): But it is not only oak trees that are under threat. The national orchard-the nation's supply of fruit trees- has declined by a staggering 25 per cent. since 1997. Bearing in mind the fact that those trees are good for the environment and that the people who farm them are unsubsidised and produce food that is good for the nation's diet, what steps is the Minister taking to encourage people to plant more fruit trees?

Mr. Bradshaw: That has nothing to do with sudden oak death. There is no evidence, either here or in the United States, that fruit trees are susceptible to the disease.

Hugh Robertson said: “The Minister’s response is a total disgrace. He is the Minister responsible for fruit farming and could not even bring himself to say a few supportive words about the sector – let alone actually do anything to help.

“I am utterly fed up with this government’s total indifference to farming in general and fruit farming in particular. It is an utter disgrace.”