HC Deb 19 December 1972 vol 848 cc1103-4
8. Mr. Farr

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current trend of home-grown beef output.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The cattle breeding herd is on a sound upward trend and we can expect increasing quantities of home-fed beef next year and after.

Mr. Farr

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, which is most encouraging. May I ask him to make absolutely certain that everything is done to exploit the potential of our natural grassland areas for the production of beef, the quality of which is unsurpassed in the world?

Mr. Stodart

Yes, Sir. The advisory services are giving particular attention to the importance of grass as a crop in the rotational husbandry of farming. That will be of benefit to those to whom my hon. Friend refers.

Mr. Maclennan

Does the Minister recognise that the trend is not very encouraging to the housewives, who are having to pay the increased prices to which my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, East (Mr. Mackie) referred earlier? What steps do the Government propose to take, as a member of the EEC, to boost beef production within the Common Market?

Mr. Stodart

As my right hon. Friend has already explained, we are dependent to a certain extent on imports. It is slightly staggering to discover that the Argentinians are having meatless weeks. I think that the best solution for this country is to encourage the expansion of beef production and to make ourselves as self-supporting as possible within the Community. The beef herd has been expanding by 7 per cent. in the past year and there has been a massive increase in the number of beef heifers in calf-70 per cent. up on last year, which is pretty good.

Mr. Charles Morrison

Are we getting as many store cattle from Eire as we used to? What are the prospects for store cattle from that source in the future?

Mr. Stodart

The supply of stores from Ireland has gone down, without doubt due to the higher prices available in the Common Market.