Damien Moore MP welcomes the Government's plan to back British Farmers with measures to boost food security across Southport and the Northern Parishes

LOCAL Member of Parliament Damien Moore MP has welcomed the Government's second annual food security summit and the launch of the plans to boost domestic food production and improve food security across Southport and the Northern Parishes.

The plan builds on the Government's strong measures to support British farming, including maintaining the annual £2.4 billion Farming budget, Country Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Schemes, and the introduction of the new UK Food Security Index (UKFSI). This index will allow the Government to monitor supply stressor events across the UK while supporting the sector to grow more food domestically.

The Government has responded to and addressed the Shropshire Review findings, ensuring that the domestic farming sector has the temporary labor it needs, and the investment funding to support enhanced industrial automation. This includes a tapered extension of the seasonal visa route for 5 years, while investing £50 million into the industrial Packhouse Automation Funding programme.

The Government has also published the Blueprint for Growing the UK Fruit and Vegetable Sector, introducing plans to build the resilience of the UK's fresh produce sector to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports. Further measures in the plan include cutting 60 pieces of redundant Retained EU Law red tape and unlocking the opportunities of precision breeding with £15 million invested into Genetic Improvement Networks.

Furthermore, the Government is also supporting farmers in getting a fair price for their products by announcing the next steps in the supply chain reviews for eggs, fresh produce, and pigs. In all 3 sectors, the Government will introduce legislation to enhance fairness and transparency, ensuring the integrity of our food industry.

Finally, the Government is also providing grants of between £500 and £25,000 to farmers affected by exceptional flooding due to Storm Henk. It is also putting in place flexibility through temporary adjustments to agreements in Sustainable Farming Incentives (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship so farmers who have been unable to carry out requirements do not miss out on income in the transition from the EU Basic Payment Scheme to SFI.

Commenting, Member of Parliament for Southport, Damien Moore, said:- "Farmers across Southport and the Northern Parishes work tirelessly to supply our communities and grow our Regional economy. I am therefore delighted that the Government have announced further plans to support British farmers, including introducing the UKFSI, flood remediation scheme, and food supply review, while maintaining the annual farming budget to support our farming community and grow our rural economies. However, to ensure sustainable economic growth and diversification for our rural farming communities, I am formally calling for the expansion of the exceptional flooding scheme to allow for the rapid distribution of repair funding within flooded communities. Moreover, I will continue to campaign for the establishment of a Regional Internal Drainage Board (IDB) for the Northern Parishes, devolving watercourse and flood response management to our local communities to better regulate outflows, infrastructure, and flood prevention measures."

Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries said:- "Supporting British farmers is a priority for this Government. Farming is the lifeblood of our rural communities, and offers huge economic benefits to the whole of the UK. But, we need to go further in improving farming resilience, increasing food security, and boosting domestic food production. We are determined to continue supporting British farmers in this; and this plan will help ensure that farmers have the support they need to increase domestic production and ensure a strong farming sector for generations to come. The long term decisions we are taking will help ensure the future of British farming and of domestic food production and security."

Join us to celebrate Volunteers across Sefton

THIS year is an exciting year. Not only is it the borough of Sefton's 50th Anniversary but it is Volunteers' Week's 40th Anniversary too! Volunteers' Week is an annual celebration of volunteers across the UK and this year takes place from:- Monday, 3 June to  Sunday, 9 June 2024.

In honour of these significant milestones, during Volunteers' Week, the Volunteer Centre Sefton is not just hosting our annual Volunteer Celebration event; we're also inviting you to nominate deserving individuals for prestigious awards:-

• Volunteer of the Year 2024.
  

• Young Volunteer of the Year 2024.
  

• Long Service awards recognising:- 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years of dedicated volunteering.

Our Volunteer Celebration event is being held at:- Bootle Town Hall, on:- Thursday, 6 June 2024. The Mayor of Sefton will give thanks to volunteers who have devoted their time to serving across the borough, recognising contributions from both small groups and large organisations alike. Booking is now open.

If you're an organisation or group working with volunteers and would like to thank all of your volunteers, you can request free certificates or e certificates that you can present to them. Get in touch for a certificate request form.

As part of our Sefton 4 Good charitable initiative celebrations, we're organising several 1 off taster volunteering events throughout the year under the banner of:- 'Sefton 50 for 50.' With 50 individuals committing to 50 good deeds and 50 nominees for our Citizens 4 Good awards; these events offer people a chance to engage and contribute to the local community.

In addition to Volunteers' Week, the Big Help Out is making a comeback from:- 6 June to 9 June 2024.

Volunteer Centre Sefton are encouraging people to actively participate and make a real positive difference in their community.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering, request a nomination form, booking form or certificate request form please contact Volunteer Centre Sefton, at:- Info@VolunteeringSefton.Org.UK or visit:- VolunteeringSefton.Org.UK.