HC Deb 30 April 1956 vol 552 cc4-5
9. Mr. Moss

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has considered the letter from the secretary of the Warwickshire County Branch of the National Farmers' Union which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Meriden, incorporating a resolution which expresses lack of confidence in the Government's agricultural policy and dissatisfaction with the 1956 Price Review; and whether he will make a statement with particular reference to the last sentence of the resolution.

Mr. Amory

I have received the hon. Member's letter and have sent him a reply. The Government's agricultural policy, as re-affirmed in the White Paper on the Annual Review and Determination of Guarantees, 1956 (Cmd. 9721), takes full account of the contribution which the agricultural industry can make to the nation's balance of payments.

Mr. Moss

But is it not a fact that four-fifths of the county branches of the N.F.U. have taken this attitude towards the agricultural policy of the Government, and is it not also the fact that repeatedly the N.F.U. has drawn the attention of the right hon. Gentleman to the connection between agriculture and our balance of payments?

Mr. Amory

I think it likely that we shall have an opportunity of discussing some of these questions a little later this afternoon.