Letter: Flagrant farmers

Sir: It really is about time that our government took positive action to persuade the French authorities to control their farmers. In the latest flagrant abuse of law, a lorryload of Spanish strawberries bound for the UK market was destroyed near Bordeaux. The importer lost an estimated pounds 35,000 - a considerable sum for a small business, with no apparent means of compensation.

The Prime Minister should not be surprised to find support for his policies in Europe diminishing, when small businesses, on whom so much hope is placed for revival of our economy, enjoy no protection whatsoever to trade in the so- called 'free' market of Europe.

Yours faithfully,

DAVID HOPE-MASON

President

Fresh Produce Consortium

London, SW8

17 May