§ 34. Mr. du Cannasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the production of milk since the Annual Price Review of 1956 compares with previous years.
Mr. AmorySales off farms in England and Wales during the months of March, April and May are estimated this year to be 490 million gallons, compared with 445, 460 and 448 million gallons in the previous three years.
§ Mr. du CannDoes my right hon. Friend expect the production of milk to increase still further before the next Price 1043 Review as forecast by many people in farming? Bearing in mind that we already consume all the milk we produce and we import none how does my right hon. Friend anticipate that this increased production will be sold?
Mr. AmoryIt is a difficult question. The trend of milk production looks like continuing upwards. Seasonally, we have now passed the flush and we shall not come up against serious trouble again until the spring of next year. I am, however, anxious about the position, and I believe that a further deliberate encouragement of milk production would mean an uneconomic use of our national resources.