Beef Herd

HC Deb 19 February 1987 vol 110 cc1052-3

10. Sir John Farr

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the size of the beef herd at the latest available date.

Mr. Gummer

1,300,000 head in June 1986.

Sir John Farr

I am grateful for my right hon. Friend's reply. Is he aware of the economic strain that beef finishers are under today? Will he assure the House that he and his Department recognise the value of the work that the traditional beef finisher is putting in in producing beef cattle in this country off grass in the traditional way, and that that is a skill that is still needed in Britain today?

Mr. Gummer

I very much agree with my hon. Friend's comments. That is why we fought so hard to ensure that we had a non-discriminatory policy in the Community, that we kept the beef variable premium scheme, that we increased the suckler cow premium and that we ensured that, with the reduction in intervention, the British farmer suffered less than any other farmer in the whole of Europe. That is a proper response to my hon. Friend's point.

Mr. Haynes

Is the Minister aware that I have some farming in my constituency? Is he also aware that those farms in my constituency that produce beef produce beautiful, delicious beef? Is he aware that the message that he brings back from Europe is not good enough? We want more and more beef produced in this country—English beef for English people. We do not want that rubbish from across Europe.

Mr. Gummer

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would like to know that we are 96 per cent. self-sufficient. I agree that the beef industry has major difficulties. I hope that he will tell his beef farmers why the Labour party intends to rate agricultural land, and see what they think about that.

Mr. Colin Shepherd

Does my right hon. Friend agree that both he and his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food should be congratulated on what they have achieved for the beef industry? Nevertheless, will he bear in mind that the very substantial stress in the industry caused by the green pound differential and adverse monetary compensatory amounts does not lead to confidence in either the short or the long term and that that problem must be addressed? Will he bring all the pressure that he can to bear on the Treasury and on the Commission to get that problem resolved?

Mr. Gummer

My hon. Friend knows that we shall be discussing the green pound in the price negotiations that are about to begin. I am glad that he supports what the Government have done in this sector. Obviously we are determined to support the sort of policies which mean, for example, the retention of the BVPS for two years so that there is some degree of continuity and confidence as a result.

Mr. Home Robertson

Is the Minister aware that the failure to operate the hill livestock compensatory allowance was one of the many factors that led the National Farmers Union to pass a vote of no confidence in the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food last week? Has he had time to consider the terms of that resolution, calling on the right hon. Gentleman to get his act together or to get out? Which will it be?

Mr. Gummer

The hon. Gentleman would do well to remember that the policies put forward by his party are so disastrous that they are not taken at all seriously by the farming community. Indeed, they are not taken seriously by his own party, because he and his hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Mr. John) had to pay for their own policy document because the party was not even prepared to fund it.