Urgent Debate Required

THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND IS BEING DESTROYED BEFORE OUR EYES, SAYS HUGH ROBERTSON

The UK’s fruit trees have dropped in numbers by 25% since 1997 according to Government figures given to Hugh Robertson and secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Fruit Group.

“The Garden of England is being destroyed before our eyes,” says Mr Robertson

Mr Robertson has written to The Speaker of the House of Commons requesting an urgent Parliamentary Debate, pointing out that he is MP for the only remaining constituency where fruit farming is the predominant agricultural type.

In the written answer, Ben Bradshaw, the Minister responsible admits that the Orchard Fruit Survey, the audit of the UK’s fruit trees, has declined from 23,523 hectares to 17,671 hectares since 1997 – a decline of 25%. When questioned about this in The House of Commons on the day the figures were released, Alun Michael, a Minister at DEFRA, denied that it was a government responsibility and blamed the market whilst refusing to offer any specific help.

Hugh said: “I have asked the Speaker to authorise a special debate as this is matter of profound importance to employment in my constituency, to agriculture and the nation’s diet and to the environment. Kent thrives on its reputation as The Garden of England and it is being destroyed before our eyes.

“Fruit farming is an activity we all ought to support. It is wholly unsupported, produces high quality produce close to the market place and is good for the environment.

“This government has presided through indifference and neglect over a disgraceful decline in one of the UK’s principal rural assets. It ought to take urgent corrective action now.”