§ Mr. Wakehamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he accepts the conclusions in the Agriculture EDC's Interim Report to NEDC of October 1976; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John SilkinI have noted the views expressed by the Agriculture EDC in its interim report to the NEDC and I will await the final report with interest. I fully agree with the general conclusion that agriculture is capable of expanding on the lines described in "Food From Our Own Resources" and that this should continue to be the aim. On the short-term problems referred to in the interim report I announced on 5th October a number of measures to meet problems arising from the recent drought.