Farm Incomes

HC Deb 02 April 1969 vol 781 cc463-4

7. Mr. Jopling

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he intends to take to help farmers recoup the drop in farm incomes.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the House on 19th March about this year's Annual Farm Price Review.

Mr. Jopling

A statement of that sort gives no hope whatever to agriculture. Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that it was clearly shown from some figures produced last week that real farm incomes, taking into account the drop in the value of money, are now as low as they were 12 years ago?

Mr. Hughes

I do not think that the hon. Gentleman is accurate in what he says, and it is important not to pay too much attention to a single year. That was the philosophy followed by his party when in office. It is important to realise that the underlying trend is steadily upwards, and real income in 1968–69 was approximately stable per full-time farm and on a normal weather basis. Those are the factors to be borne in mind.

Mr. Godber

Accepting the Minister's basis for argument, will he now not agree that the trend about which he talks, in both production and income, is far below what is needed to live up to the expectation which he raised in November and is insufficient to provide the import saving about which he spoke then?

Mr. Hughes

The bad weather in most parts of the country during last summer has distorted the picture. I am satisfied that, with the Reviews of 1967, 1968 and 1969, we have put the industry on the right course for the expansion we need in four years' time.

12. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much increases in farm incomes implied by individual Price Review awards since 1964 have deviated from actual increases in farm incomes, with adjustments to normal weather conditions where appropriate.

Mr. John Mackie

The determinations made at particular Reviews cannot be directly related to yearly income changes which depend on many factors, as the hon. Gentleman knows only too well, besides the level of guarantee prices.

Mr. Mills

The Minister may huff and blow and say that he is satisfied about this and that, but what matters is the actual farm incomes of individual farmers. Unless these go up, he will not see the expansion which he wants.

Mr. Speaker

Order. Supplementary questions must be questions.

Mr. Mackie

If I may say so, that supplementary question has nothing whatever to do with the hon. Gentleman's original Question.