§ 16. Mr. Joplingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the progress of the selective expansion programme for agriculture; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesIn the last 18 months bad weather has caused considerable setbacks to agricultural production, particularly of cereals and sheep. But the good cereals harvest has brought a significant recovery.
Cattle numbers are expanding well and beef production is increasing. Progress on pigs, though slower, is also satisfactory, and home bacon production is appreciably up on last year.
The progress of the selective expansion programme, which covers four years, is reasonably satisfactory.
§ Mr. JoplingTaking one example, cereals, is it not true that this season's harvest will still be below the 1967–68 figure? Is it not true that we are now lamentably behind the Minister's selective expansion programme and it is very doubtful that we shall get the £160 million increase in import saving by 1972–73?
§ Mr. HughesIt is true that this year's harvest will be below the 1967 harvest, but it will be nearly 1 million tons above last year's harvest. I think this news will cheer the hon. Member. He must remember that the selective expansion programme runs to 1972–73. We must always remember that we are looking at a four-year period, and the whole point of these guide lines is that the industry can plan for more than one year at a time. It is not particularly helpful to read the entrails every week for political reasons.