19. Mr. Dixonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now operate the Common Market mechanisms for price support in the livestock sector or otherwise introduce alternative mechanisms such as price guarantees or subsidies related to a feed formula.
§ Mr. PeartI have already given substantial help to beef and pig producers, and I have now announced further help for pig producers in my reply to a Written Question to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Swain).— [Vol. 874, c. 199-200.]
Mr. DixonDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that the time has now come for him to tell the British housewife the truth, and that unless she pays economic prices for food today her children and grandchildren may not have any food in five or 10 years' time?
§ Mr. PeartI think that the Government are right to have direct subsidies on certain foods. This has been accepted. We have fulfilled an election pledge. At the same time, I believe that to stimulate our own home agriculture is important.
§ Mr. TylerTo what extent is withdrawal of the lime and fertilisers subsidies having an effect on the cost of feeding livestock? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that with five of my Liberal colleagues I went to meet the Commissioner for Agriculture in Brussels yesterday and we were told that there had been no consultations with the EEC about this withdrawal—let alone its being caused by EEC regulations? Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the lime and fertilisers subsidies should be restored to the full amounts?
§ Mr. PeartThe hon. Gentleman knows that these two subsidies were abolished by the previous administration. I am now under pressure to restore them. I know that many of my hon. Friends in touch with the farming industry would like to have the lime subsidy restored. I am considering the matter.