§ 23. Sir H. Studholmeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the facts that about two-thirds of British beef comes from the dairy herd, and that substantial expansion of beef is called for by the National Plan, which would be accompanied by expansion in milk production with consequent erosion of the guaranteed milk price, what inducements he will offer to dairy 1284 farmers to undertake the required expansion.
§ Mr. PeartI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) on 23rd February.
§ Sir H. StudholmeWould the right hon. Gentleman agree with the opinion expressed by experts at the farming conference at Oxford this year that the erosion in the guaranteed price of milk, as a consequence of increased beef production, might amount to as much as 2½d. a gallon?
§ Mr. PeartThere were a lot of experts at that conference. Sometimes the experts disagreed with each other. As the hon. Gentleman knows, this matter is now being discussed in connection with the Price Review.