§ Mr. Andersonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the outcome of the harvest.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesThe results of the harvest are much better than we expected earlier. The summer was generally very favourable for cereals, although some farmers, particularly in eastern and midland areas, have not benefited because they had difficult or impossible planting conditions at the beginning of the season. My officers are now analysing the crop yield returns for the end of October and these will be published shortly. I would now expect the total United Kingdom cereals crop to approach some 14 million tons, about one million tons higher than in 1968. The potato crop also has improved considerably, but it is too early yet to make an accurate assessment.
94WIn the circumstances, the Government consider that the 1970 Annual Review will provide the proper opportunity to take account of the whole situation in the context of our expansion objectives.