§ 10. Mr. Stodartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the net saving in imports of food of £160 million to be achieved by 1972–73 he expects to be made in Scotland.
§ Mr. BuchanIt is neither practicable nor useful to make separate estimates for any one part of the United Kingdom. Scotland can, however, make a particularly valuable contribution in respect of beef and other livestock products.
§ Mr. StodartIf the Minister of Agriculture can make these calculations, and since there is a better statistical office in the Department of Agriculture at St. Andrew's House than at the Ministry of Agriculture itself, why cannot the hon. Gentleman give guidance to Scotland? If he cannot, since Scotland produces the best food in the United Kingdom, will he not agree that we should at least contribute one-tenth of the programme?
§ Mr. BuchanI accept the hon. Gentleman's compliment to the efficiency of my Department and of St. Andrew's House, and agree with it. But we believe that it is wrong to break this up area by area and commodity by commodity. We have laid down the broad programme and pace of expansion. No doubt circumstances will alter particular requirements and I think that the hon. Gentleman knows this subject well enough to rest content with that.
§ Mr. MaclennanWhile welcoming what my hon. Friend has to say about livestock, may I ask whether he has given consideration to the proposals of the N.E.D.C. and whether he challenges its assumptions about sheep farming which are particularly disappointing?
§ Mr. BuchanThe N.E.D.C. Report is my nightly reading. I understand my hon. Friend's disappointment with the Report's comments about sheep. Two problems are involved, and both of them give concern. The one involves technical aspects and the other is the effort to increase demand for mutton and lamb in this country.