Farm Incomes

HC Deb 14 February 1985 vol 73 cc473-4

11. Mr. Jackson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider reviewing the presentation of statistics about farmers' income in the Annual Review of Agriculture.

Mr. MacGregor

The tables on these matters have all undergone considerable changes during the last two years and now provide more detailed and better information about farming income than was previously available. But I am always willing to consider suggestions for improvements to these statistical tables.

Mr. Jackson

Does my hon. Friend agree that in the presentation in the White Paper insufficient weight and prominence are given to the many qualifications which the White Paper admits must be attached to the estimates of farm incomes?

Mr. MacGregor

We have gone to considerable lengths to try to get this right in this particular year, and I believe that that is reflected in the comments on the figures in the media and elsewhere. My hon. Friend is entirely right to say that we should not look at just one figure and that there are very considerable variations between different sectors of agriculture, which are very firmly brought out in tables 26 and 27. He is absolutely right to draw attention to that.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Will the Minister ignore the current cant of the National Farmers Union, which is only bleating on behalf of its membership? Is it not right that for the next 10 years the farmers have to face some pretty rough justice, because, increasingly, money must be transferred within the European Community's budgets from agriculture to industry and they will have to take their fair share of the cuts?

Mr. MacGregor

We have made it clear that we believe that change has to come in agriculture where we have surpluses in the Community and in this country. That is what we are doing in all the negotiations on price fixing. But it is a great mistake to concentrate on certain sectors of farming. It is very important to stress that there are many farmers with extremely modest incomes who work all hours of the day and night to achieve them.

Mr. Forth

Will my hon. Friend consider including, as well as income figures for the farming community, the capital value of their assets, which are rarely reflected when these matters are considered and reported?

Mr. MacGregor

Those figures also are contained in the White Paper. The difficulty is that so much information is contained that it is very important to get the balance right, and that is what we endeavour to do.

Mr. John

However the statistics are presented, does the hon. Gentleman agree that the 22 per cent. rise in farmers' incomes must mean that the cereal sector, where we are already heavily into over-production, must have done very well indeed? Can he justify the continuance of that?

Mr. MacGregor

We have made it clear for some time now that we are endeavouring to get a better balance between the cereal and livestock sectors, and we shall continue to do so.

12. Mr. Hardy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the present structure and balance of farm incomes.

Mr. MacGregor

I am concerned that broadly there continues to be an imbalance between the arable sectors and most livestock sectors. We will take account of this imbalance during the forthcoming CAP price fixing.

Mr. Hardy

Will the Minister accept that the large cereal producers, many of whom are to be found on the Government Back Benches, have done extremely well and continue to do well despite the great difficulties the small farmer generally faces? May we take it that the Minister will acknowledge that the small farmer today is for the first time feeling the cold breath of the 1930s, and does the Minister still expect the small fanner to continue to support the Conservative party?

Mr. MacGregor

Again, one has to look at different types of small farmer and different areas, but I certainly accept that in some areas the small farmer is having a difficult time, and I have made that clear. It is precisely because of our anxiety to help farmers of this sort that we are seeking a better balance between cereals and livestock. After all, the drop in cereal prices this year has undoubtedly benefited the livestock sector, and we shall continue with that approach.