§ 44. Sir J. Maitlandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state for each year since 1950 the production and the net income of the agricultural industry; and if he will present the figures in such a form that they can be compared with the relationship between income and productivity recently set out in the Command Paper entitled Incomes Policy: The Next Step.
§ Mr. SoamesI will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the index of agricultural net output together with figures of the industry's income from 1950 to 1960. This shows that net output rose by 19 per cent., the incomes of those contributing to it, i.e. farmers, farmworkers and landowners, 26 per cent., and the incomes of farmers by themselves, 32 per cent. The Command Paper on Incomes Policy, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, is concerned with general principles for the economy as a whole.
§ Sir J. MaitlandCannot the general principles be applied to an industry about which the Government have every economic detail?
§ Mr. SoamesYes, but this principle is one which is for the economy as a whole, as opposed to individual industries.
§ Mr. FernyhoughCan the right hon. Gentleman also say what the pre-centage increase was in the subsidies over the same period?
§ Mr. SoamesNo, Sir, not without notice.
§ Sir C. OsborneHow do these increases both in production and income compare with the industrial figures?
§ Mr. SoamesAgain, I would need notice of that question in order to compare it with the rest of the economy as a whole.
§ The following is the information:
| — | Index of Agricultural Net Output | Income of Agricultural Industry† | Aggregate Farming Net Income* | |
| (Pre-war average= 100)* | £ million | £ million | ||
| 1950 | … | 145 | 610 | 273 |
| 1951 | … | 149 | 637 | 329½ |
| 1952 | … | 153 | 679 | 340 |
| 1953 | … | 156 | 687 | 338 |
| 1954 | … | 152 | 674 | 302½ |
| 1955 | … | 156 | 690 | 337½ |
| 1956 | … | 161 | 708 | 327 |
| 1957 | … | 162 | 737 | 363½ |
| 1958 | … | 161 | 740 | 323 |
| 1959 | … | 169 | 746 | 356 |
| 1960 (Provisional) | … | 172 | 767 | 359 |
§ Notes:
§ * Years beginning 1st June.
§ †Calendar years. These figures give the combined income of farmers, landowners and workers, after providing for depreciation
§ These figures are for the United Kingdom.