BURY MP David Chaytor is urging the Government to step up its efforts to encourage organic farming.
The left-wing backbencher is pressing Agriculture Minister Jack Cunningham to take advantage of Britain's Presidency of a European Union to reform the Common Agricultural Policy.
He has told Dr Cunningham: "The net effect of the CAP over many years has been to cut jobs in rural areas, to reduce the diversification of wild life and to encourage the dangerous intensification of agriculture."
He has called for assurance "that the Government will continue to press for reforms that adopt an integrated approach to rural areas, stressing rural development, the rural economy and environmental protection."
In particular, the Bury North MP is demanding information on what plans the Government has to encourage more farmers to switch to organic farming.
Dr Cunningham has told Mr Chaytor that he has already announced an interim package of measures to boost cash help to organic farming and to finance more research.
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