HC Deb 29 February 1972 vol 832 cc234-5
7. Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider further interim cereal deficiency payments at an early date.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

My right hon. Friend proposes to consider whether anything further should be done when average market prices are available to the end of this month.

Mr. Howell

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Am I right in reading into it a note of optimism? If that is correct, could he indicate that that is the case as soon as possible, so that confidence can be restored to cereal-growing areas?

Mr. Stodart

With great respect to my hon. Friend, I do not accept that confidence requires to be restored, since it is there already. So far as optimism goes, I am certain that my hon. Friend, who, like myself, is a farmer, realises that all farmers are optimists.

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