HL Deb 27 July 1965 vol 268 cc1160-1

2.44 p.m.

LORD HURD

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the policy discussions initiated by the Prime Minister following farmers' dissatisfaction with this year's price review have now been concluded, and when a White Paper will be published.]

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, the discussions which my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture is holding with the farmers' unions cover a wide range of subjects, including the contribution which agriculture can make to the national economic development plan, and they are still continuing. Statements have already been made about the conclusions reached in the talks on eggs and potatoes, and the Government will make further announcements as the various discussions are concluded. It is not, however, intended to issue a single White Paper covering all the subjects being considered.

LORD HURD

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. It is disappointing that the Government do not at the moment intend to publish a White Paper, because would it not be best to try to draw together these various threads to see that they make a coherent whole and make sense? We are rather drifting in the matter of agricultural policy. Does the noble Lord put it. I should think desirable we should draw these various threads together, so that the farmers really know what the nation needs from British agriculture?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, from the announcements to be made it will be possible to draw the threads together, as the noble Lord put it. I would think that, after these separate announcements have been made, the Government would consider the possibility of bringing them together, so that people can see them as a single whole. Some of the questions under consideration will be the subject of announcements to be made in a very short time—I hope before the end of this month.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, does the sudden appearance of posters by the roadside indicating that Great Britain should have great farming indicate an unsatisfactory outcome of these talks?

LORD CHAMPION

My Lords, I saw these after the Annual Review. I thought some of them were stuck up by the noble Earl on his farm gate.