§ 42. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the rate of growth of agricultural production in 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67 and his estimated rate of growth for 1967–68; and by how many times he estimates that it will expand before 1970.
§ Mr. John MackieThe rate of growth of agricultural production is shown by the Index of Agricultural Net Output. At the 1967 Annual Review this was estimated as 127 in 1963–64, 137 in 1964–65, 136 in 1965–66 and forecast as 135106W in 1966–67. A revised estimate for 1966–67 and a forecast for 1967–68 will be published in the 1968 Annual Review White Paper, but I cannot forecast the output beyond that year.
§ 43. Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now estimate the contribution to import saving of a £200 million increase in home agricultural production.
§ Mr. John MackieThe import saving that might be achieved would depend on a complex of factors including the extent to which particular commodities were to expand and the levels of import prices. It is not therefore possible to make a meaningful estimate.