§ Prices to operate for the livestock year to 31st March, 1953
§ (with provision for retrospective payments as announced)
| Approximate average annual price for 1951–52* | Addition for 1952–53 to existing price schedules† | |||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | |
| Milk, pence per gallon‡ | 36.60 | 1.54 | ||
| Fat cattle, per live cwt.§ | 120 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| Fat sheep and lambs, per lb. dressed car-case weight including headage payments | 2 | 5½ | 1 | |
| Fat pigs, per score dead weighty║ | 53 | 8 | 1 | 6 |
| Hen eggs, per dozen sold through packing stations | 4 | 4¼ | 2½ | |
| Duck eggs, per dozen, minimum price | 3 | 1¼ | 2½ | |
| Wool, per lb. (from 1st May, 1952) | 6 | 0½ minus | 1 | 6½ |
| * Including November, 1951, Special Review additions calculated over a full year, but not including elements included in 1951–52 prices as once-for-all additions in respect of a deferred Special Review in 1950. | ||||
| † Existing schedules are as announced on 29th March, 1951 (excluding the once-for-all additions) and 29th November, 1951, subject to grade and seasonal variations. | ||||
| ‡ Part of the price increase will be used for additions to the production bonuses. The 1951–52 price quoted includes production bonus, quality premiums and attestation bonus. | ||||
| § The price increase will be limited to adult clean cattle. The 1951–52 price quoted relates to steers, heifers and cow-heifers only, and includes quality premiums. | ||||
| ║ The average increase of 1s. 6d. will be concentrated on clean pigs. The 1951–52 price relates to the quality weight range. |
§ EARL JOWITTMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord very much for taking this early opportunity of acquainting us with this important decision. Naturally we are not prepared to discuss it now, but I assume that during the debate on food production next week the noble Lord will be prepared to answer any question which may arise with regard to it. We are completely at one with the Government in thinking that the increase of the output of food from our own soil is of the first importance. Nothing is of greater importance to-day. When the noble Lord said that he hopes to raise the net output by 60 per cent. above prewar by 1956 I do not know whether he has in mind the increase made up to the present time. Unless we bear that in 390 mind it is difficult to see what is involved in the figure of 60 per cent. above prewar and also to know how far along that road we have already travelled. I do not know whether the noble Lord happens to have that in mind, but if he has I should like him to tell me now. If he has not the information, of course we can raise the matter again next week.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Earl for what he has said and for the support he gives us in trying to expand the food production of this country. If he would agree, I feel that it would be better if we left these problems until next Wednesday, when we are having a fall debate on agriculture and when we can go into them more fully.