HC Deb 26 June 1968 vol 767 cc435-6
19. Mr. MacArthur

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the monthly rate of food imports since the introduction of the selective expansion programme.

Mr. John Mackie

The selective expansion programme was announced in September, 1965. During 1965 the average monthly value of imports of food and live animals was £131 million. It remained at this level in 1966 and rose to £134 million in 1967. The average monthly value for the first five months of 1968 was £154 million compared with £140 million in the same period in 1967.

Mr. MacArthur

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that that makes nonsense of all the Governmental claptrap about expansion? Is he aware that farmers in Scotland have not been able to detect a sign of a selective expansion programme? Will he rapidly announce his acceptance of the agricultural "Neddy" Report, published yesterday, and allow the industry to get on with the expansion drive which it is anxious and able to see through?

Mr. Mackie

The rise in the price of imports is in the foods we could not have grown in this country. The import of all the temperate foods which we grow is at just about the same level over the last two or three years. If the hon. Member follows the evidence given to the Select Committee he will see the figures which have been given there.

Sir D. Renton

What proportion of the food imports over the last two years which the right hon. Gentleman mentioned could have been produced at home? What steps will he take to ensure that those products are produced at home in future so as to make a major contribution towards solving our economic difficulties?

Mr. Mackie

If the right hon. and learned Gentleman had been following all the various arguments and discussions which have been going on recently about agricultural production, he would have seen the figures that we have for our selective expansion programme and the figures that the little Neddy for agriculture produced two days ago. My right hon. Friend is examining those. Agriculture has been given more encouragement in the last three and a half years than it ever had before. If the right hon. and learned Gentleman looks, not only at the figures, but around the countryside, he will see that farmers are responding to that encouragement.

20. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the progress of the selective expansion programme for agriculture.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

I cannot usefully add to the account of progress given in the Annual Review White Paper which was presented to the House on 6th March.

Mr. Godman Irvine

Does not the Minister agree that only one of the last six years has seen a smaller expansion in the beef herd than the last 12 months? Will he couple that with the fact that there was a high level of calf slaughtering? Does not that indicate that what he needs to do most is to encourage confidence in farmers?

Mr. Hughes

I was referring to the Annual Review, which envisages a continuing expansion in the beef, dairy and pig herds, the maintenance of the sheep flock, and further expansion in the cereals programme, especially of wheat. This amounts to a very substantial programme.

Mr. Godber

Is it still the Government's intention that the selective expansion programme introduced by his predecessor, who I am glad to see has just joined us, will be achieved by the date which was stated?

Mr. Hughes

On present calculations we believe that it will be achieved, but we might even improve on it.