§ 34. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he intends to take to help the agricultural industry bear the increase in costs incurred by it during 1968–69 which result from the policies of the Government.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesThis year's Annual Review determinations have provided the resources for the key commodities in the Government's selective expansion programme. Cost changes were taken into account at that time.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsAs the Minister must now accept that agriculture has nothing like recouped its costs in the past year, how does he expect it to be able to meet increased food demands by home production when it could not meet those demands last year? As we had to import extra food last year, how does he expect agriculture to meet an even bigger demand in the coming year?
§ Mr. HughesWe have had a good run on the subject of costs this afternoon and I have given a precise explanation of the position. Agriculture has been asked to bear some of its costs, but much less than was the case under the Conservative Party. For example, between 1952 and 1964 agriculture had to bear 63 per cent. of its increased costs against 21 per cent. during the last five years.
§ Mr. JoplingWill the right hon. Gentleman confirm that one of the measures which he intends to announce in the next few weeks is the introduction of levies for beef?
§ Mr. HughesThere is no justification for that question.