Rural Economy
During a debate on the problems facing rural communities in the current economic climate, Philip Dunne condemns the closure of Government departments - such as HMRC offices - in rural areas.
Mr. Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con): Does the hon. Gentleman also agree that the whole objective of tagging is to ensure traceability of supply, but that once the head has come off the body in the slaughterhouse, traceability disappears, so the measure is perfectly pointless?
Mark Williams: The hon. Gentleman is right. There is a complete lack of coherence in the policy, and we need the Government to continue to make those points on our behalf and on behalf of the farming community, not least because it is strongly felt in that community that the measures that were already in place were robust enough to deal with the problems that the European Commission wanted to alleviate. I hope that we shall hear from the Minister whether progress has been made.
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Mr. Dunne: My hon. Friend is making a powerful case for Isle of Wight and island communities generally. At this time of rising unemployment, particularly in rural areas, the Government are removing employment in departmental offices in rural areas-for instance, as others here today will know, offices are being closed by HMRC in rural areas, particularly along the Welsh borders-but the Jobcentre Plus offices that were closed last year now need to be reopened to cope with the increase in unemployment. Does my hon. Friend not agree that the Government are scoring own goals, and that they should put a stop to it?
Mr. Turner: I do, indeed. I understand well the point that my hon. Friend makes, and I congratulate him on inserting those words into our debate.
