§ 7 and 8. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how much agricultural land has been lost for food production in the 10 years 1948 to 1957, inclusive; and what has been the total increase in food production over the same period;
(2) what estimate has been made of the total acreage of land which may be lost for food production in the ten years 1958 to 1967, inclusive; and what increase in food production will be necessary to make good the loss.
§ Mr. GodberPrecise figures for the loss of agricultural land are not available. The only information is derived from the Agricultural Returns, which are collected for other purposes and which exclude holdings of one acre or less and those parts of agricultural holdings not used for agricultural production. Subject to these reservations it is estimated that, in England and Wales, the net loss of agricultural land to food production has been 462,000 acres over the ten years 1948 to 1957, or less than 2 per cent, of the total area of agricultural land. A large proportion of this land has been converted to woodland and forestry development. Over this period food production has increased by about 16 per cent. If the present trend continues, it is possible that the same area of land in England and Wales could be lost 674 during the next ten years: but past achievements would indicate that the effects of such a loss could readily be made good by the increasing efficiency of British farmers.
§ Mr. HallIs my hon. Friend aware that the Answer now given varies from the information I had when I last put down a Question on the point and when the loss was given as about 3½ per cent. of the total acreage available of land under production? Would he not agree that an increase of food production against the background of this continuing loss of land is a very noteworthy achievement indeed, on which British farmers are to be congratulated?
§ Mr. GodberI warmly support the latter part of what my hon. Friend has said. I have noted his first point, and would like to look into it.
Mr. T. WilliamsIs the hon. Gentleman willing to say that this wonderful achievement on the part of agriculture is almost wholly due to the agricultural policy of the Labour Government?
§ Mr. GodberI would be very happy to say that the right hon. Gentleman, among many other people, has played his part in bringing about that result.
§ 9. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the total food requirements of Great Britain is now met by home production; and, assuming no change in the present dietary habits, what he estimates will be the average annual increase in food production necessary to ensure that the proportion of home produced to imported foodstuffs does not fall during the ten years 1958 to 1967, inclusive.
§ Mr. GodberThe proportion of home production to total supplies in Great Britain cannot be ascertained exactly, but is about one-half. If one was to assume no change in the amount or composition of individual diets, an increase in total consumption can only follow from an increase in population. This might amount to about 3½ to 4 per cent., between 1958 and 1967.
§ Mr. HallIs my hon. Friend aware that I find it a little difficult from his Answer to gather whether or not we are likely to meet the increase in food production necessary which will follow upon a continuing loss of land and an increase 675 of population? Would he regard it as a serious matter if the proportion of home-produced to imported foodstuffs fell over the next ten years?
§ Mr. GodberI should have thought my previous Answer indicated clearly the extent to which increasing production per acre can offset loss in total area. On the second part of the supplementary question, I should certainly agree that it is right and proper that we should continue to produce at least as high a percentage at home as we are doing at present.