HC Deb 04 December 1986 vol 106 cc1074-5
12. Mr. Fatchett

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on progress on his priorities as President of the Council of Agriculture Ministers.

Mr. Jopling

My priority as President remains the expeditious handling of the Commission's proposals for the reform of the common agricultural policy, particularly in the beef and milk sectors, and the measures which contribute to the completion of the internal market.

Mr. Fatchett

Will the Secretary of State tell us what priority he will give to low pay in agriculture, especially at a time when we know that two fifths of those working in the industry are on wages at or below supplementary benefit levels, and at the same time farmers' profits have increased enormously? Is that not a scandal in an industry in which people work so hard and give so much for the benefit of this country?

Mr. Jopling

The hon. Gentleman should have visited the Smithfield show this week and talked about farmers profits increasing enormously. He will know that, in real terms, since the middle of the previous Labour Government's term in office there has been a decline in in farmers' profits. Their profits were down by 43 per cent. last year. The hon. Gentleman would have been lynched if he had made his point at the Smithfield show.

Mr. Pollock

Does my right hon. Friend accept the need to secure a proper scheme for the future of the beef industry? May I re-echo the plea for a scheme that will not in any way have a limitation on headage payments, to allow a viable scheme to carry on and give confidence to the farming community?

Mr. Jopling

We are very conscious of the need to reform the beef sector. As my hon. Friend will have heard a few moments ago—and I am glad to endorse this once again—any limitation in the number of animals that would qualify for the new premium would be unacceptable to us.

Miss Maynard

Will the Minister make it his priority to ensure that the Government stop breaching the European social charter in relation to farm workers' pay, as two in five farm workers are paid wages below the decency threshold as detailed in the European charter? This is at a time when Lloyds bank has forecast a 50 per cent. increase in farmers' profits this year and when even the National Farmers Union has said that there will be a 20 per cent. increase in farmers' profits this year?

Mr. Jopling

If the hon. Lady will give me a pound for every percentage point increase below 56 per cent. this year I will give her a pound for every percentage point increase above that figure. As she well knows, responsibility for farm workers' wages is not mine but that of the Agricultural Wages Board.

Mr. Chapman

Does my right hon. Friend agree that at least a tithe of the huge amount spent on subsidy to encourage food production should go towards encouraging good conservation policies to protect the landscape, bearing in mind that conservation of the countryside is not incompatible with sound food production and agricultural policy?

Mr. Jopling

I agree with my hon. Friend. I refer him to a survey completed not long ago. The very large number of trees and lengths of hedgerows planted each year by farmers shows that they are the largest group of conservationists in this country.