HC Deb 27 October 1970 vol 805 cc2-3
1. Mr. Charles Morrison

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will advance the date of the Annual Price Review.

7. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now arrange for an interim autumn Farm Price Review, having regard to cost increases on farms since July, 1970.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Prior)

No, Sir. On 6th October the Government announced in a White Paper increases in the guarantees for 1970–71 for most of the main agricultural commodities.

Mr. Morrison

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on introducing an interim price review to cope with an unprecedented situation. Would he have another look at this in general terms? Would he not agree that mid or early March is rather late for most farmers to change their policy for the year in question? Would he not agree that, if the price review were earlier, he might be able to get results sooner?

Mr. Prior

I am going to consult the National Farmers' Union and other interested bodies as to whether or not we wish either to go on with the same procedure for an annual price review or have it at the same time of the year, but these are long-term considerations and I shall need a good while to undertake negotiations.

Sir G. Nabarro

Whereas farmers everywhere, notably in Worcestershire, are singularly grateful to my right hon. Friend for the award of £54 million, would he say up to what point this award was measured in terms of increasing costs—was it to the end of July, or to the end of June or to the end of August?—because costs are still rising very fast?

Mr. Prior

It was not related to costs either incurred or likely to be incurred, but it was considered by the Government to be a boost to agriculture, taking into consideration the very high market prices, particularly in cereals, and therefore in feeding stuffs. We shall have to look at the year as a whole at the end of the year.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, whereas certain sectors of the industry certainly benefited from the increases which he announced, other sectors certainly did not—for example, the poultry industry? Increasing costs will result in an increased price of poultry meat. What action is he taking to assist these sectors to keep food prices down?

Mr. Prior

When the right hon. Gentleman had my position, he deliberately put back on to the open market the whole question of eggs. I have continued with the same policy as he adopted.