§ 36. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the present condition of the agricultural industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossThe Annual Review of the economic condition and prospects of the agricultural industry is now under way and its outcome must be awaited.
§ Mr. Wolrige-GordonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the fact that the Review is under way should not have inhibited him from at least saying whether he was satisfied with the present state of the industry in Scotland, which has had one of the most difficult years ever, with one of the worst harvests, one of the most severe credit squeezes, a depressed market in beef and lamb, and a shaken out barley crop? Will the Secretary of State make sure that these points are taken into account in the Price Review?
§ Mr. RossYes. I think that the real purpose of the Question was revealed in the latter part of the supplementary. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer it."] It will be answered when we come to the Price Review and when the result of that Price Review is determined. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that we have had debates on agriculture when I expressed myself in relation to the kind of weather we have had, and the effect of this and of other things on the farming industry.
§ Mr. StodartWould the right hon. Gentleman subscribe to the realistic views expressed in the debate by his hon. Friend the Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) and the hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Mackintosh)? Would he also subscribe to the views expressed by the National Farmers' Union who in the Farming Leader of January said that the Government had knocked the whole heart out of the industry?
§ Mr. RossI can assure the hon. Gentleman that, had we taken the advice of himself and his right hon. Friends, there would have been no industry, far less a heart.