§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what effects he estimates cuts in expenditure will have on the agricultural industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Barry JonesThe planned level of public expenditure for 1976–77 as set out in the White Paper on Public Expenditure to 1978–79 (Cmnd. 5879) entails no reduction in forecast expenditure on agricultural grants and subsidies and will not, therefore, bear directly on the agricultural industry in Wales. There will be some reduction in the funds allocated to the Welsh National Water Development Authority for its arterial drainage programme, which includes both urban and agricultural projects. It is for that authority to decide its own priorities.