§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect Great Britain's entry into the 341W European Economic Community would have upon the number of beef cattle which come from dairy herds; and how this would affect the targets for beef production set by his Department.
§ Mr. PeartIf we were to accept as they stand the arrangements so far decided upon by the present Community for the single market stage, the general level of profitability of U.K. milk production would probably be lower and this could lead to some reduction in the size of the dairy herd. On the other hand, the increased profitability of beef production would provide an incentive for a greater proportion of calves from the dairy herd to be retained for beef. Because of the many imponderable factors involved, no firm assessment of the net effect on numbers can be made. However, the achievement in these circumstances of the Government's present objectives for U.K. beef production would be influenced not only by the factors mentioned but also by the effect of increased profitability on the size of the beef herd.
§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the adequacy of United Kingdom milk production in the winter season in the event of Great Britain joining the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. PeartThis would depend on the arrangements agreed for milk in an enlarged Community. If the arrangements and decisions so far adopted by the Community were to be applied in the United Kingdom as they stand, milk production would become less profitable in comparison with cereal and beef production and winter milk production would be less profitable than summer production. In these hypothetical circumstances, United Kingdom milk production could fall below the requirements of the liquid milk market in some winter months; but it is not possible to make a precise estimate of the possible shortfall on these assumptions because of the many imponderable factors involved.