HC Deb 22 January 1969 vol 776 cc477-8
33. Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he is making to promote further research into the net contributions made by agriculture and other industries for which he is responsible to the balance of payments, either in the form of import saving or by export earnings.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

It is now well established that agriculture, and other industries for which I am responsible, make a valuable contribution to the balance of payments.

Mr. Hill

Will the Minister take seriously the; criticism in the N.E.D.C. Report that more research is badly needed into this question in the agricultural and other industries? Should there not be, therefore, a continuing study of the problem? Will the Minister also say what he is doing about forestry with its very high timber imports?

Mr. Hughes

A great deal of research is going on both within the Government and in private industry. My Ministry has a special fund with which to finance research projects on particular topics in and through British universities. The fund is at present almost wholly employed on research into the effect of capital investment in agriculture and into the problem of small farms, two very important subjects.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Is not the Minister aware that research is not needed to know that the returns on new agricultural investment are inadequate to use borrowed money for that purpose and the profits too low to yield new investment capital from that source?

Mr. Hughes

A good deal of research is needed into the effects on the farming industry of the policy of the party opposite.

Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the egg producers in this country are continually being told that they are producing more eggs than the nation requires? Why not, therefore, stop the importation of all foreign eggs and so give home producers a fair chance of earning a proper living and thus help with the balance of payments problem?

Mr. Hughes

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is, as usual, half an hour too late. I dealt with eggs half an hour ago.

Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

Inadequately.