5 September 2012, Rural experts at national property agents Carter Jonas today welcomed the appointment of west country MP David Heath as the new Minister of State for Agriculture and Food.

Mr Heath, who is Liberal MP for Somerton and Frome, has replaced Jim Paice as farming minister in David Cameron’s Cabinet reshuffle.
NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond has said although he is disappointed that Jim Paice has lost his job because he has been a good friend to the industry he was now looking forward to working with the new minister.

James Stephen, a partner in the rural division of Carter Jonas at its office in Wells, congratulated Mr Heath on his appointment and was sure he would be a strong advocate for the farming community.

He hoped Mr Heath, who lives at Witham Friary, near Frome, would be of particular help to the dairy industry – most importantly ensuring there is a fair distribution of wealth along the supply chain.

Mr Stephen was sure the new minister would have particular sympathies and knowledge of farmers in the west country and said Mr Heath would also appreciate that there were also many cheesemakers in and around his own constituency and hoped the welfare of these businesses would also be high on his agenda, in particular ensuring they, and the rest of the supply chain are treated fairly by the major supermarkets.

Arthur Chambers, an associate in Carter Jonas’s rural division in its Bath office, said that as an MP for a large rural community Mr Heath was well placed to appreciate major issues affecting the farming industry, such as TB and the proposed badger culling together with the dairy farming crisis over milk pricing during the summer.

Contact James Stephen, Carter Jonas, Wells on 01749 683381 or email james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk