Countryside March Beacons

EDM number 835 in 1997-98, proposed by Charles Kennedy on 25/02/1998.

That this House congratulates the organisers of the beacons lit to mark the broadly-based Countryside March on 1 March: the National Farmers Union, Scottish National Farmers Union, Farmers Union of Wales, Ulster Farmers Union, Country Landowners Association, Scottish Landowners Federation, Countryside Alliance and Tenant Farmers Association, who have united to express concern at the problems being faced by rural communities and agriculture, in particular, farming incomes having been nearly halved, and the effects of the strength of the pound in making exports less competitive, both of which have severe knock-on effects for the entire rural community; and calls on the Government to keep its election promise to 'recognise the special needs of people who live and work in rural areas'.

This motion has been signed by a total of 38 MPs.