HC Deb 23 April 1956 vol 551 cc1437-9
22. Air Commodore Harvey

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will adjust the Annual Price Review to a review every three years.

Mr. Amory

To depart from the present practice of holding a review every year would require amendment of the Agriculture Act, 1947. As foreshadowed in paragraph 36 of the White Paper on the 1956 Annual Review, the Govern- ment are considering whether any practicable methods can be devised of providing longer-term assurances of support for the industry than are possible under present arrangements.

Air Commodore Harvey

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the considerable dissatisfaction among the smaller dairy farmers, particularly in Cheshire, not so much at the amount as at the allocation of the subsidy? Is not the Act of 1947, as now framed, loaded in favour of the large farmer? Would he review as a matter of great urgency the whole Act of 1947, which is now nine years old, to help 80 per cent. of the country's farmers, the small farmers, and give them a reasonable chance to compete against the big men?

Mr. Amory

I will take into consideration everything that my hon. and gallant Friend has said, with which I agree. I would remind him that the dominating difficulty this year was that until the consumption of liquid milk could be increased we just dared not increase the incentive for the production of milk.

28. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the increasing anxiety amongst the agricultural community of Warwickshire, particularly the small farmers, since the publication of the Annual Price Review; and what action he is taking about this.

Mr. Amory

I am aware that the Warwickshire County Branch of the National Farmers' Union has passed a resolution critical of the Government's agricultural policy. As I have already informed the House, the Government are satisfied that their determinations following the Annual Review were fair and just to the industry and to the nation. They are also satisfied that these determinations were as fair to the small farmer as to the large.

Mr. Johnson

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that they not only passed a vote of censure, but also moved that he be replaced by his hon. Friend the Member for East Aberdeenshire (Sir R. Boothby)? Is he further aware that this conference asked the Prime Minister to go to Leamington to speak to them on the matter? Does not this shake him out of his complacency? Does he never lose any sleep at night thinking about this matter?

Mr. Amory

I was aware of the constructive suggestions made by the National Farmers' Union to which the hon. Member refers, but I cannot report to date that I have lost either sleep or appetite?