HC Deb 22 November 1968 vol 773 cc331-2W
Mr. Godber

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average annual percentage rise in net agricultural output in the United Kingdom for the three crop years 1965–66 to 1967–68, including, if necessary, any estimated figures made by his department; and what was the similar average annual percentage rise in the immediately preceding three years, namely 1962–63 to 1964–65, and the comparable annual average percentage rise for the 12 crop years 1953–54 to 1964–65.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

Estimates prepared at the time of the 1968 Annual Review (which included a forecast for the farm year 1967–68) show that agricultural net output measured over all holdings in the United Kingdom rose:—By 3.0 per cent. per annum between 1965–66 and 1967–68. By 4.9 per cent. per annum between 1962–63 and 1964–65, and By 2.6 per cent. per annum between 1953–54 and 1964–65.

(Years are June-May and the growth rates are expressed in compound interest terms).