MPs back farmers over borehole payments

MPs on Tuesday demanded that the government temporarily suspend charging farmers for using water from boreholes, a move farmers say could deal them the final blow and drive them out of business.

The government charges a ‘water abstraction fee’ for the use of water from boreholes. The fee is intended as a disincentive to protect the water table from over-pumping and pollution.

Farmers say the rule was never enforced until now. That delay, they point out, is not their fault....