§ 31. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance that the aggregate farm income for the purposes of the Annual Price Review will continue to be made by agricultural economists on the same basis 1641 as hitherto; particularly, that such adverse effects of the summer drought as reduced milk yields and higher feeding costs in dairy herds will be set against the advantage in higher cereal yields attributed to the absence of rabbits due to myxomatosis; and if he will make a further statement on the effects of myxomatosis on cereal production this season.
Mr. AmoryI can give an assurance that the aggregate farm income for the purposes of the Annual Price Review will continue to be made by agricultural economists by the same methods as hitherto, which take account of all factors, favourable or unfavourable, affecting farm income. As regards the increase in cereal production due to myxomatosis, I said in reply to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) on 27th October that it is not possible to make an estimate based on statistics. My figures of £10 to £15 million were based on the observations of my Department's technical staff in every county, and represent the best estimate at present.
§ Mr. HurdAs there has been a certain amount of misrepresentation of what the Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have said about this matter, will my right hon. Friend please keep the lines of this Question and Answer very much in mind, and ask his right hon. Friend the Chancellor to do the same, when making any further references to this problem, because I think that my right hon. Friend has now got it right?
Mr. AmoryAs regards my hon. Friend's last few words, I am not quite sure what he means exactly. I have said exactly the same thing on this subject ever since my original Press conference.