§ 25. Mr. P. Browneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends taking as a result of the report by the Natural Resources (Technical) Committee entitled, Scale of Enterprise in Farming; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. VaneThe valuable report by the Natural Resources (Technical) Committee makes no specific recommendations about Government policy, and I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. and learned Member for Brigg (Mr. E. L. Mallalieu) on 2nd February.
§ Mr. BrowneWill my hon. Friend particularly note that Part VII of the Zuckerman Report which poses the grave social problems which will face the countryside should there be too rapid amalgamation forced on small farmers as a result of the fall in net farm income?
Mr. VaneWe have noticed that part. We have given considerable help to the small farmer recently, not least under the Small Farmers Scheme. No one wants to see the pattern of the countryside violated, but there is some financial help towards amalgamation under the Farm Improvements Scheme. More advantage could be taken of co-operation by small farmers, but no one wants to see anyone forced out of his home.