§ 16. Sir P. Agnewasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest date on which information is collected for compiling the statistical table as to profitability of the agricultural industry contained in the Annual Review and Determination of Guarantees and designated Aggregate Farming Net Income in the United Kingdom; and, similarly, what are the latest dates for compilation of the tables relating to production and sales, respectively.
§ Mr. SoamesThe information on Aggregate Farming Net Income to which my hon. Friend refers is agreed with the farmers' unions and includes forecasts which are not available until late in January. This applies also to the figures of livestock production and sales of farm produce, although provisional figures of crop production are available earlier in the month
§ Sir P. AgnewWill my right hon. Friend consider so arranging with the farmers' unions the compilation of this 13 information as to enable the figures to be made public before the determination of guarantees under the Price Review is announced and to give time, if necessary, for a discussion in this House before then?
§ Mr. SoamesI shall certainly bear in mind what my hon. Friend has suggested. I cannot give him an assurance, but I shall certainly look at the point he has made. As to a discussion in this House, it is not, of course, for me to decide the timing of debates.