§ 18. Mr. Joplingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the present level of farm incomes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesI have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford Holt) on 11th February.—[Vol. 795, c. 1243–4.]
§ Mr. JoplingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of us on this side of the House feel that farm incomes will never be improved until the system has been changed? Is he also aware that we very much welcome his new approaches to overseas suppliers of beef to try to instigate a beef stabilisation scheme involving levies on imported beef that would put up the cost of beef to the home consumer? That is entirely in line with Conservative policy.
§ Mr. HughesThe beef stabilisation arrangements which are being negotiated with overseas countries would not, in my view, increase the price of beef. This is the type of scheme that would not result in an increase of price. It is very different from the scheme which has been outlined by the party opposite in its recent policy statement.
§ Mr. BrooksWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that he is also the Minister of Food? Is he satisfied with the present level of food prices, and will he make a statement?
§ Mr. HughesFood prices have been maintained at a very reasonable level under the present Government. They have risen much less than average earnings.
§ 32. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to ensure that farmers' incomes are not affected by increases in imports of food.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesFor almost all major agricultural commodities we already have import measures with the object of securing reasonable stability of price on our markets. I shall as appropriate continue to improve these arrangements.
§ Mr. Godman IrvineIs not the Minister aware that farmers frequently find that events confirm their anxieties? In these circumstances, will he not admit that his policies have failed and that it is time we had something better?
§ Mr. HughesOn the contrary, I think that our policies have succeeded. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that farmers' incomes are protected in two ways against lower prices consequent upon increased imports. We have the system of guaranteed prices and deficiency payments, and we have a variety of import arrangements to ensure reasonable market prices. We have increased the measures to provide market stability—measures that the party opposite when in government did nothing to bring about.
§ Mr. MaclennanWould my right hon. Friend agree that farmers regard the Conservative Party's new guarantee as being no guarantee at all and consider that as a result of it their incomes would not be secure? [HON. MEMBERS: "Rubbish!"]
§ Mr. HughesOf course, my hon. Friend is right. The policies recently announced by hon. Members opposite as their official policy for the next election have aroused great nervousness and apprehension among farmers—[HON. MEMBERS: "Nonsense!"]—first, because it would bring great uncertainty into agriculture and, second, because it would substantially increase food prices.
§ Mr. GodberIf that is what the Minister thinks, is he aware that he is singularly out of touch with farming opinion? As one simple example, when he and I addressed meetings at the Rougemont Hotel in Exeter, I left by the front door and he left by the back door.
§ Mr. HughesI shall be glad to leave through the front door of any hotel with the right hon. Gentleman at any time. Certainly, the reception that I received at Exeter was similar to the reception received by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Stodart) at the time of the South Ayrshire by-election, when he was booed out of the hall after he had explained the policy of the party opposite.