Government and its non communication

I am beginning to become increasingly frustrated with Government.

We have had two instances in recent weeks where it has sneaked things out.

The first was over its decision to stop testing for brucellosis in the UK's beef cattle herd, and the second concerned a devolved matter in Scotland and the start of payments for the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme.

It could be argued, in a wishy-washy, feeble civil service way – dare I say incompetent cop-out (now that feels hugely better) – that the brucellosis decision was communicated. Is, however, a letter to the Veterinary Record by the chief vets of Scotland, England and Wales the way in which to communicate an important decision to the agricultural industry?

I think not. Firstly, it only told those vets who could be bothered to read the letters page of the Veterinary Record and secondly it completely ignored beef cattle producers, those who have for the last 55 years had to compulsorily make their herds available for compulsory brucellosis testing. Did the decision come as a surprise to farmers? Yes. Has it provoked concerns? Yes. Have the figures been made available on how much Government will save through this decision? No.

The second issue is over the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme and the Scottish Executive's decision not to tell the media that the £18million or so gathered – paid by ultimately by taxpayers, but collected through a deduction on all previous beef cattle payments received by farmers in Scotland – was being paid out. This was the same that executive that last year made a plea through the Scottish media to remind farmers that the deadline for the scheme was soon ending and that applications were running significantly short on the previous year.

Like obedient lap dogs the Scottish media responded and gave the civil service a free advert, urging farmers to get their applications in quick so as not to miss out getting back some of the cash they had lost from the beef element of their single farm payments.

So when it comes to paying out the scheme, does the executive then tell us what the payment levels are, how many farmers had applied etc. Does it hell. It ignores us altogether.

I started asking questions on the scheme last Monday (April 2), and I am still awaiting answers.

So what is it's excuse for not telling the media?

Well here's the official line from the press office: We take seriously our responsibility to be open and accountable and to provide information in the most effective ways possible. Where this involves information relating to ongoing schemes we would seek to advise producers directly. Where there are new schemes, changes to existing schemes or other factors that require us talking to a wider audience, we will work with stakeholders, the media and others to ensure that information is made available to all those with an interest.

Isn't that just pitiful and woeful? Civil servants were quick enough to shout for help at the back-end of the year, but now when the time comes to share the information they bypass us.

Am I alone in feeling that Government isn't communicating effectively enough with us? What do you feel? Can you provide other examples where you have had problems?


Let me know. If the feeling is strong enough, then I'm quite happy to ask Guild council to lodge a complaint.


Regards


Joe