§ 4. Mr. Godberasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why agricultural profits in the area of the East Midlands fell by 12½ per cent. last year.
§ Mr. PeartThe dull wet summer and autumn of 1965 generally depressed crop output and increased the cost of the harvest. This reduced farm incomes in the East Midlands in 1965–66 below the record level reached in 1964, when farm incomes in this area had increased very substantially. Such fluctuations in net income, due to weather and other factors, are natural hazards of farming.
§ Mr. GodberWe all recognise the natural hazards of fanning, but there are also some unnatural ones. Does the Minister consider that this year's Price Review will restore this cut, having in mind that the East Midlands area is largely arable and that the Price Review, whatever it has done on the livestock side, has done very little for the arable side?
§ Mr. PeartThe results of the farm income survey in the East Midlands, together with other similar surveys, were fully taken into account in the 1967 Review. Although it is difficult to assess net income in the East Midlands in particular, I believe that they will benefit from the Review.