HC Deb 22 March 1967 vol 743 cc1699-700
22. Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he will take to increase the net income of the fanning community.

38. Mr. Marten

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to increase the net income of farmers.

Mr. Peart

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made on 15th March announcing the Annual Review determinations, which have been welcomed by the National Farmers' Union.

Mr. Jopling

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his record over the last three Price Reviews has been a classic example of stop-go? Will he repair his somewhat wobbly image by saying that he will not go back to his bad old ways, but in future will build up output and confidence in the industry as he should?

Mr. Peart

Two of the last three Price Reviews were agreed. If the hon. Gentleman carefully examines the awards of those Reviews he will find that they were much better than those given by the Tory Government. This is the best award since 1948.

Mr. W. Baxter

Am I to understand that the Price Review has not been issued to Her Majesty's Opposition? Hon. Members opposite do not seem to have understood the contents and appear to be the only people in the country who do not recognise that this is a very good Price Review which is accepted by the public as well as by the farmers.

Mr. Peart

I thank my hon. Friend, I get the impression that hon. Members opposite have not read the Review White Paper.

Mr. Godber

If things are as good as the right hon. Gentleman has said, especially with the other agreed Price Review which he mentioned, why has not the income of farmers gone up as it should?

Mr. Peart

With this award there has been an effort to provide farmers with capital to invest in the industry, which is a good thing. We emerge much better from a comparison of the last three reviews with the disagreed reviews of hon. Members opposite. The Tories produce a good review only during an election year.