RYEDALE MP John Greenway warned this week that DEFRA ministers are planning to discriminate against sheep producers in England while farmers in Scotland and Wales and the rest of Europe would receive higher subsidies.

The European Council of Ministers are close to agreeing to fix the Sheep Annual Premium at 21euros (about £13). Member states would have access to additional European money to top up that payment, or for other schemes.

However, Mr Greenway warned that: "Lord Whitty made abundantly clear that he wants to use the top-up funds to buy back quota from sheep producers to reduce the size of our sheep flock. Worse still, he hinted that the Government is arguing for the right to reduce the £13 flat payment so as to increase the funds available to cut production.

"But the Government's proposals will only apply to farmers in England. I can see no prospect of the Scottish Parliament or the Welsh Assembly following suit. It's highly likely they will give the money to sheep farmers. Scotland and Wales will once again be better off."

Mr Greenway added: "Ministers have clearly made up their minds to abandon any thought of a recover in sheep production in England while the rest of the UK and Europe benefits."

Updated: 11:26 Thursday, November 29, 2001