HC Deb 25 February 1954 vol 524 c555
27. Lieut-Colonel Upton

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now able to announce a long-term policy for British agriculture.

Sir T. Dugdale

I do not understand what the hon. and gallant Member has in mind. The Government's long-term policy for agriculture has already been stated on many occasions, both in White Papers and in speeches by members of the Government.

Lieut-Colonel Lipton

How does the right hon. Gentleman explain the widespread misgivings that still exist about the absence of a long-term policy and about the rumours of impending alterations in the 1947 Act? Is not the Minister aware that the way to get streaky bacon is not by stuffing the pig one week and starving it the next?

Sir T. Dugdale

I do not accept the view of the hon. and gallant Gentleman. I have answered the Question on the Order Paper. If he cares to look at the various White Papers, he will see that there is a very definite long-term policy.

Mr. G. Brown

Since the right hon. Gentleman said the last time this question was asked that it was rather unfair to ask for a long-term policy, and since he now says that we have already had it without noticing it, will he tell us in which White Paper it is actually set out?

Sir T. Dugdale

The right hon. Gentleman will find it in Command Paper 8556, after the Annual Review of 1952, in paragraphs 9 to 12. It is all set out there. That was reaffirmed in the White Paper after the 1953 Review, and was supplemented by the White Paper on De-control.