§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his estimate of increased production costs per live hundredweight which beef producers would have to pay if Great Britain were to enter the European Economic Community under the present agricultural arrangements for the Community;
(2) what is his estimate of increased production costs per gallon which milk producers would have to pay if Great Britain were to enter the European Economic Community under the present agricultural arrangements for the Community.
§ Mr. PeartI accept that these are important questions but I am afraid that I cannot give precise estimates. Feeding and husbandry practice varies widely on both beef and dairy farms and affects the amount of cereal feed entering in production costs. The high cereal costs agreed upon by the Community will of course greatly increase the cost of cereal feeds. But its incidence will depend partly on the season and partly on the extent to which cereal feeding features in the individual farmers feeding policy. Winter milk and beef costs will, of course, be greatly increased.