§ 14. Mr. Iain Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the United Kingdom's present level of self-sufficiency in temperate food that can be produced in the United Kingdom compared with 1972.
§ 17. Sir David Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in ensuring that the United Kingdom is self-sufficient in the production of temperate foodstuffs.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI estimate that we now produce 76 per cent. of all the temperate foodstuffs we consume. In 1972 the figure was only 63 per cent.
§ Mr. MillsDoes my right hon. Friend agree that much of that improvement has come from the massive achievements in productivity by British farmers? Does he accept that the application of such techniques to nationalised industries and their prices would be of benefit both to British farmers and to other British industries?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI agree with my hon. Friend. Not only have British farmers achieved considerable success, but it has been in the interests of the British economy as a whole, with more than £1 billion of imports saved compared with 1979.
§ Sir David PriceDoes my right hon. Friend agree that achievements have been made not only by British farmers but by the industries that are ancillary to, and help, the farming industry? Does he further agree that if the same level of increase in productivity had been sustained throughout the British economy we would be in a much better position today?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his remarks. Not only are 650,000 jobs directly involved in agriculture, but many tens of thousands more are involved in the engineering and building industries and elsewhere. The benefits go widely through the economy.