HC Deb 03 May 1967 vol 746 cc513-4
6. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the increase in supplies of beef calves from the dairy herd as a result of the Price Review determination.

Mr. Hoy

The selective expansion programme does not lay down a precise target for the contribution of the dairy herd to beef expansion and no such estimate has been attempted. But the recent awards on milk, beef and calf subsidy provide the incentive to meet the general objective.

Mr. Irvine

Is the Minister aware that a moment ago he said that there would be some increase in the milk production of this country? Is he also aware that if he is to achieve the target of the selective expansion programme he will require at least 125,000 more cows, which would produce about 100 million gallons more milk? What will be the effect of that on the price, if it is achieved, which nobody expects it to be?

Mr. Hoy

I said that we expected some increase but that we had no estimate. Another figure was then used to correlate the increase with what happened to price. We gave an assurance, which was welcomed at the Review by milk farmers, that if this caused any fall in price we would be bound to take that into consideration at future Reviews. That assurance was given by my right hon. Friend.

Mr. Godber

Surely the Parliamentary Secretary will appreciate that the selective expansion programme called for an increase in the production of beef to the maximum of technical possibilities? Does not that mean, therefore, that there must be a massive increase in the number of calves in the dairy herd? If that is to be achieved what the hon. Gentleman has told us does not match up to the National Plan.

Mr. Hoy

I thought that we had made it perfectly clear. We have given these three forms of subsidy; and said that, if from the technical point of view the increase turned out as anticipated, then the effect on milk price would be taken into consideration. We did not lay down a figure because it was for the farmers to do that. The farmers' unions made a forecast of what the figure would be by 1970, and we hope that this will be achieved.