Farming matters Shared frustration and anger at broken promise on funding
CREW INCIDENT FORCES 300-PASSENGER PLANE BOUND FOR LOS ANGELES TO TURN BACK AND FLY ALONG COAST AT 10,000 FEET
JUST before Christmas we welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that the 2022 direct payment budget will be maintained at 2020 and 2021 levels important news not only for farmers but everyone involved in Wales’ food and farming supply chain.
Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths announced on 23 December 2021 that a total direct payment ceiling of £238 million would be provided in 2022, matching the budgets in 2020 and 2021.
The minister’s decision recognises the importance of the direct support budget not only to the 16,000 or so farm businesses that rely on it, but also the many more tens of thousands of businesses that benefit from these payments. As every farmer knows, this money flows very quickly through their bank accounts and out into the wider community, meaning hundreds of thousands of Welsh people who are employed directly and indirectly in the agricultural and food
ABOEING Dreamliner passenger plane made a dramatic U-turn off the North Wales coast after declaring an onboard emergency.
Residents as far as Anglesey reported hearing the roar of the aircraft as it rapidly descended, passing close to Prestatyn at an altitude of around 10,000ft.
The Air Tahiti Nui service to Los Angeles had taken off from Paris last Tuesday morning, climbing to 36,000ft as it crossed the English Channel.
About 45 minutes into the flight, while over Sheffield, the Dreamliner abruptly turned west and headed out over the Irish Sea.
It then issued a 7700 squawk code, alerting local air traffic control facilities to some kind of onboard emergency.
After performing a 180-degree turn, the aircraft flew past Llandudno and followed the North Wales coast, passing over Talacre, as it headed to Manchester supply chains will benefit from such funding.
We therefore very much welcome the fact that the minister has recognised the concerns we have raised in terms of the importance of this funding not only for farming families but for Wales’ wider communities.
Members also know that we share the Welsh Government’s frustration and anger that the UK Government’s promise to replace EU funding in full has been broken. Welsh farmers have already lost £137 million as a result of the autumn 2020 spending review, and in November 2021 it was
Airport.
Capable of carrying almost 300 passengers, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner touched down at Manchester at around 12.45pm.
Flight tracking Radarbox reported likely caused by a emergency.
A Twitter user onboard claimed it involved a crew member but “thankfully they are okay”.
After spending around nine hours on the runway at Manchester, the plane flew back to Paris, according to Aviation Source.
As well as being unable to complete their flights, some passengers were unhappy with their on-board treatment at Manchester.
One French passenger tweeted Air Tahiti Nui: “Flight TN7 blocked for more than 8 hours in Manchester today without giving any information to the passengers. Are your customers cattle?”
Another added: “Passengers stranded for more than 8 hours on a plane in Manchester website it was medical announced that the budget for agriculture would be cut by a further £106 million compared with what was promised.
Farming budgets in the EU are not facing such cuts, yet we were promised that no cuts would result from Brexit. So we share the Welsh Government’s frustrations and concerns - particularly in light of the rising barriers for our food exports to the EU and the threat posed by our competitors, whether in the EU or through new trade deals.
One such trade deal signed over the Christmas period was the Free Trade
without any news. Poor customer service.”
Replying to the MT Aviation Twitter account, one person claimed the plane remained grounded as it had too much fuel to land in Paris, and too many passengers to deplane in Manchester.
They later added: “What a trip! Yes, after waiting 8 hours on the tarmac, we were told the wings needed to be defrosted and that we would reach Paris in 3.5 hours because we needed to burn as much combustible as possible. Arrived in Paris at 2:10am.”
The plane was reported to have taken the “scenic route” back to Paris, circling several times over Norfolk to burn off fuel.
A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said it was understood the diversion was due to a medical emergency onboard and that there were no issues with the aircraft.
Air Tahiti Nui has been contacted for a comment.
Agreement with Australia, which the UK Government estimates will in the long term increase the value of the UK economy by just eight one hundredths of a percent (0.08%), and increase wages by around 60p a week. This vanishingly small benefit comes at a cost for rural communities in particular - the value of our agri-food industry is estimated to fall by £278 million due to increased imports of Australian beef and lamb produced to standards which do not come close to our own.
With this and other trade deals subject to consideration by the UK Parliament,
it is essential that we hold our MPS to account over the coming weeks and months and ensure they do the right thing by their constituents and the long term interests of the UK, its food security and high environmental and welfare standards.
By the time this column goes to print we will almost be half way through January! Our county staff are working from home at the moment, in line with Welsh Government Covid19 guidance, but we are here for members. Please don’t hesitate to call us or drop us an email and we will do our best to assist you.