§ 13. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his department has of decreasing wheat and barley yields in the South-West; and what special steps he will take to offset the consequent loss to farmers.
§ Mr. John MackieNone. Although there have been fluctuations because of bad weather the underlying trend in the South-West over the last five years has still been rising. Weather is one of the risks which the fanning industry normally has to carry.
§ Mr. DigbyIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this year has been particularly disappointing in Dorset, and this comes at a time when there is a serious threat to milk producers who represent our traditional industry? This is a very real problem to farmers in the whole of South-West England.
§ Mr. MackieI agree that the Dorset figures are slightly less than those for the rest of the area. If the hon. Member wanted the Dorset figures, he should have asked; but he asked for the South-West figures.