§ 20. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the costs which are taken into account at the Annual Price Review have risen in the 1968–69 agricultural year.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesDetails of cost changes will be published in the White Paper following the completion of the 1969 Annual Farm Price Review.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsSurely, the right hon. Gentleman has these figures available. Would it not be to the advantage of the House and the whole country, particularly the farming industry, to have these costs published now? They are not in dispute. Will not he tell us what the rise in cost is? Is it £40 million, as some people say?
§ Mr. HughesThe final figures for aggregate cost changes are agreed with the farmers unions through the Review negotiations. I cannot give the details, as the hon. Gentleman knows from his experience as a Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture.
§ Mr. MaclennanDoes my right hon. Friend agree that it is unsatisfactory that this matter should be beyond debate until the Price Review is announced, when the House is told that this has taken on the nature of an agreement and that we are not in a position to influence the discussions one way or the other?
§ Mr. HughesThis is a convention that has obtained since the Annual Price Review was established.