HC Deb 04 July 1962 vol 662 cc48-9W
65. Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the uncertainties arising from the Common Market negotiations, whether he will give advice to farmers on which products they could concentrate most profitably.

Mr. Soames

It is not possible or right for the Government to give general advice to individual farmers as to what lines of production they should concentrate on, owing to wide variations of soil, size and type of farm throughout the country. Farmers are, of course, guided by the price determinations made after each Annual Review. Should we join the Common Market, the changes that would be necessary to conform with the development of a common agricultural policy would be made gradually over a period of years, so giving farmers the opportunity to plan ahead.