§ 71 and 72. Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) as British agriculture is making the most direct and quickest contribution to the drive for national solvency, if he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government's new policy is 237W designed to ensure a sound expansion of the agricultural industry, coupled with a reduction in agricultural imports;
(2) in view of the economic situation, what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the part agriculture now plays to help overcome these problems; and why Her Majesty's Government's new economic measures take no account of the part agriculture plays as an import-saving industry.
§ Mr. PeartThe Government's policy for agriculture continues to be that it should contribute to the growth of the economy by a selective expansion of output based on increasing productivity. The serious economic position of the country underlines the importance of the contribution agriculture can make to import saving and the re-deployment of manpower in accordance with the policy initiated last year. We shall be considering at the next Price Review the industry's progress towards the objectives we have set for it and, within the framework of the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20th July, the physical and financial resources the industry requires.
§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the cost to agriculture in a full year of the taxation increase announced on 20th July; and what are the figures for Scotland and for England and Wales, respectively.
§ Mr. PeartAbout £2.2 million for the United Kingdom, of which about £02 million relates to Scotland and about £F8 million to England and Wales.