§ 25. Mr. Ridleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage growth of farm income in real terms, and of net agricultural output between October, 1964, and the latest convenient date, respectively.
§ Mr. HoyFor 1968–69, when output was seriously affected by bad weather, farmers' aggregate net income, adjusted to real terms by the Consumer Price Index is forecast at about 13 per cent. less than for 1964–65, and the volume of net output, using 1954–57 prices as a base, about 1 per cent. more.
§ Mr. RidleyHow can the Government justify paying farmers 13 per cent. less for producing 1 per cent. more? Is this in accordance with the prices and incomes policy? What do the Government intend to do about it?
§ Mr. HoyThe hon. Gentleman, like any other hon. Gentleman, can be very selective in the years he uses. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I am not objecting to it. My only comment is that the hon. Gentleman compared a year in which the weather was very good—1964–65—with last year in which, as everybody admitted, the weather was very bad.