§ Sir Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the 1984 annual review of agriculture.
§ Mr. JoplingA White Paper setting out the conclusions of the 1984 annual review of agriculture will be laid before Parliament today. The White Paper shows that compared to the unusually favourable growing conditions of 1982, those in 1983 were more difficult and the volume of agricultural output fell by 1 per cent. from the 1982 record figure.
In contrast to the sharp rise in farm incomes in 1982 a fall of 15 per cent. is estimated for 1983, although in real terms incomes were still above the levels of 1981. The circumstances of arable farms continued to be more favourable than those in the livestock sector.