§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the workings of the butter quota arrangements in relation to home production of dairy products; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeartThe production of butter in the United Kingdom is not restricted by quota. The purpose of the butter quota arrangements is to protect our traditional overseas suppliers from material injury by dumped and subsidised imports. The arrangements have stabilised prices on the U.K. market and the domestic industry has shared in the benefit of this.
66W(2) how many farmers in Wales left agriculture during 1966; and how this figure compares with the three previous years.
§ Mr. John MackiePrecise figures for the number of farmers are not available.
The following table shows the fall in the number of holdings, i.e. in the pieces of land for which separate agricultural census returns are made. Many of the holdings recorded in the agricultural censuses have no significant farming activity on them or are farmed as part of larger farm units; this applies particularly to holdings in the smaller size range.