§ 12. Mr. Joplingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost to farmers of statutory bodies established since October, 1964.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Mackie)The direct charges on farmers by river authorities have averaged about £200,000 a year. The net cost to farmers of the Home Crown Cereals Authority averaged £140,000. Figures for levies on farmers by statutory bodies for 1967–68 are not yet available.
§ Mr. JoplingWould the Minister care to tell us how much the Training Board is likely to take from the industry as well? Would he not agree that it has been the cause of the farmers' lack of confidence more than any other one thing, and, bearing this in mind, would he try to recoup the farmers for that?
§ Mr. MackieAs the hon. Gentleman knows very well, it is very difficult to evaluate all the value to the agricultural industry of these various bodies which have been brought in in the last two or three years. I think that the hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, as a farmer, the chaos there was in the commodity markets, meat and cereals in particular, so that we had to do something to get order in the marketing of these commodities.