HC Deb 03 December 1968 vol 774 cc440-1W
Mr. Godber

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the average annual percentage rise in agricultural net output for the three crop years from 1964–65 to 1967–68 as assessed or estimated at the time of the 1968 Farm Price Review;

(2) what was the average annual percentage rise in agricultural net output for the three crop years 1961–62 to 1964–65;

(3) what was the average annual percentage rise in agricultural net output for the three crop years 1958–59 to 1961–62.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

Estimates prepared at the time of the 1968 Annual Review (which included a forecast for the farm year 1967–68) show that agricultural net output measured over all holdings in the United Kingdom rose:

  • By 1.7 per cent. per annum between 196465 and 1967–68;
  • By 5.9 per cent. per annum between 196162 and 1964–65; and
  • By 4.4 per cent. per annum between 195859 and 1961–62.
  • (Years are June-May and the growth rates are expressed in compound interest terms.)

Mr. Godber

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, by how much per cent. the annual average rise in agricultural production for the three crop years from 1964–65 to 1967–68 was lower than the annual average percentage rise for the crop years 1953–54 to 1964–65.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

Estimates prepared at the time of the 1968 Annual Review (which included a forecast for the farm year 1967–68) show that agricultural gross output measured over all holdings in the United Kingdom rose:—

  • By 1.5 per cent. per annum between 196465 and 1967–68 and by 2.9 per cent. per annum between 1953–54 and 1964–65.
  • (Years are June/May and the growth rates arc expressed in compound interest terms).