§ 50. Mr. Stodartasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was paid for food imported into the United Kingdom during 1959; and what he estimates the additional cost would have been, at similar prices, assuming an agricultural production at home at the same level as it was in 1939.
§ Mr. GodberImports of food into the United Kingdom in 1959 cost about £1,300 million c.i.f. It is very difficult to calculate with any degree of accuracy but, on the given assumption about prices, the increase in home agricultural production since 1939 would be worth roughly £400 million per annum. Whether, if that increase had not occurred, imports would have been higher by the same amount could only be a matter for speculation.