Why Have Successive British Governments, And The Eu, Subsidized Farmers

[Paigntonian]

but not fishermen. If it's a question of our food self-reliance shouldn't we subsidize both?

[douglas9401]

It's a question of balance. Scales, if you like.

[Paigntonian]

Douglas. Surely they should be treated equally.

[ToraToraTora]

they have subsidised fishermen, primarily by letting them plunder British and Irish waters.

[EDDIE51]

Yes, as said the government HAVE subsidised Fishermen by enforcing a 'Fishery Protection Zone' around the UK where ONLY UK boats are allowed to fish ! (plus a few overseas boats who's operators have paid a Large Fee to be allowed in!) The Royal Navy ,has a 'Fishery Protection Fleet' their only purpose it to ensure that the rules are followed !

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure I'd call protection a subsidy. No one is paying fishermen to leave a sea "fallow".

But yes, interesting question. Scales should be balanced.

[Paigntonian]

Thanks all. Seems very unfair to the fishing industry.

[dance2trance]

farmers are on land. the land is owned by aristocrats. they get rents from land. so they like farmers to have funds to pay the rents. if no farmers then no rents to aristocrats. so farmers are helped along via administrative pressures. aristocrats do not own the sea where fish live. so no rents from fishers. but EU does give huge subsidies to fishing fleets to help poor countries out. we get such subsidies. don't know the sums. you could ask the europeans commission press department?

[Buenchico]

http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?344333/In-schizophrenic-vote-European-Parliament-reintroduces-subsidies-to-grow-EU-fishing-fleet-in-overfished-waters

[jno]

Scales should be balanced

I see what you did there.

[Ryzen]

...and airlines..as there's no VAT on aviation fuel.

[New Judge]

//...and airlines..as there's no VAT on aviation fuel.//

It's the airlines' customers who are being "subsidised" (if you subscribe to the strange logic which says that not imposing a tax amounts to a subsidy). If VAT were levied on aviation fuel the airlines would simply claim it back. It's the passengers (those who are not buying their tickets in connection with a VAT registered business, that is) who ultimately pay the VAT.