GEOFFREY Cox, MP for West Devon and Torridge met NFU members from Holsworthy, Hatherleigh and Okehampton branches last Friday evening, to give his appraisal of Defra's conduct in recent months and to discuss local concerns about the state of farming. Neil Parish MEP, chairman of the European Parliament agriculture committee was also present. During the lively meeting, Mr Cox expressed his deep concern about the Government's long term vision for the future of livestock agriculture. Mr Cox, a member of the House of Commons select committee which scrutinises Defra, criticised what he said was the lack of action on Bovine TB, and took the Government to task for doing nothing to ease the grave and constant increases of financial pressures on farmers. He also raised his fears that bureaucracy was continuing to throttle the livestock industry, and explained how his direct experiences with Government ministers and officials during the recent West Devon Meat investigation did little to suggest that they were adequately aware of the precarious state of farming in the South West. Speaking after the event, Mr Cox said: 'I am always extremely grateful to have the opportunity to discuss face to face the acute concerns that farmers have about their survival and future. 'As I have said continually, this Government simply fails to grasp the integral nature of livestock farming to our area, and cannot comprehend the damage its inaction is causing to our rural economy and communities.'