§ 12. Mr. Joplingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the targets for agriculture set out in the National Plan still represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesAs I announced in November, 1968, the broad objectives of the selective expansion programme have been revised and rolled forward to 1972–73.
§ Mr. JoplingWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the Question, which refers to the National Plan? Either the National Plan has failed, or it seems that Government can for ever shrug off their responsibilities over targets by just extending the programme for another few years, so that the targets are never reached, nor do we ever know what is happening.
§ Mr. HughesAs always, the hon. Gentleman's deductions are wrong. He knows perfectly well that it is unrealistic to have precise commodity targets on a year-to-year basis. We plan ahead, and that is what we have done on this occasion. We have confidence that we shall achieve our objectives.
§ Mr. HoosonDoes not a written reply yesterday disclosing that 67 per cent. of our lamb was imported during the past year show that on the livestock side there is a great tendency for the country to fall behind in achieving the targets?
§ Mr. HughesWe have been importing New Zealand lamb since the days of the last Liberal Government. The hon. and learned Gentleman knows that perfectly well. I have given an answer on the question of mutton and lamb, and I think that the position is quite clear.