§ 24. Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the net export tonnage of barley exported from the United Kingdom in 1981.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe information requested is shown in table 7 of the 1982 "Annual Review of Agriculture" Cmnd. 8491.
§ Mr. SpearingI regret that the Minister did not quote the tonnage. However, does he agree that it is too great, that it represents the imbalance to which reference has been made, and that for every tonne of barley exported £40 of the taxpayer's money has to be spent to get it away from these shores?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithNo, I do not think that it is too great. I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman does not welcome the improvement in self-sufficiency achieved by British cereal farmers. I am sorry also that he does not welcome the idea of two-way trade within Europe in cereals such as barley, to the benefit of the British economy and the British farmer.