§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the size of the British food bill for 1964; and how much of this amount was received, respectively, by home farmers and foreign producers.
§ Mr. John MackieIt is estimated that personal expenditure on home and imported food in 1964 was approaching £5 ½ thousand million.
The value, at point of first sale, of agricultural and horticultural output in the United Kingdom is estimated at something over £1,650 million including Exchequer payments to maintain guaranteed prices, but not production grants. Of this total just over 85 per cent. relates to the production of crops, livestock and livestock products for human consumption.
Our fishing industry landed supplies valued at about £57 million in 1964 and the c.i.f. value of imports of food and feedingstuffs, including tropical produce, was about £1,680 million, of which some £930 million came from non-Commonwealth sources.