§ 18. Mr. Alan SimpsonTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of United Kingdom food imports could be grown in Britain; and what success the United Kingdom has had in reducing such imports. [17682]
§ Mr. RookerProvisional figures indicate that last year the UK was 69 per cent. self-sufficient in terms of food and feed products or materials that could be grown in season, in the UK. This figure shows a reduction of about 4 per cent. on the average in recent years, mainly as a result of reduced output and exports of beef and higher levels of imported meat and meat products.