§ 34. Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total cost to the Exchequer of the support
TOTAL DIRECT AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT FROM PUBLIC FUNDS AS A PERCENTAGE OF (I) GROSS OUTPUT AND (II) TOTAL VALUE OF FOOD CONSUMED IN UNITED KINGDOM £ million Year Total Agricultural Support* Gross Output (Agricultural Holdings)†‡ Agricultural Support as Percentage of Gross Output Total Value of Food Consumed§║ Agricultural Support as Percentage of Food Value 1955–56 … 206 1,353 15.2 4,106 5.0 1956–57 … 239 1,386 17.2 4,337 5.5 1957–58 … 284 1,469 19.3 4,515 6.3 1958–59 … 241 1,462 16.5 4,616 5.2 1959–60 … 257 1,495 17.2 4,770 5.4 1960–61 … 263 1,500 17.5 4,850 5.4 1961–62 … 343 1,606 21.4 5,016 6.8 1962–63 … 310 1,660 18.7 5,248 5.9 1963–64 … 294 1,656 17.8 5,404 5.4 1964–65 … 265 1,782 14.9 5,644 4.7 1965–66 … 238 1,822 13.1 5,851 4.1 1966–67 … 229 1,866 12.3 6,139 3.7 1967–68 … 262 1,935 13.5 6,330 4.1 1968–69 … 265 1,981 13.4 6,537 4.1 1969–70 … 277 2,140 12.9 6,913 4.0 * April/March years. † June/May years. ‡ Total value of produce sold off farms (including farm house consumption) plus value of work in progress, but excluding production grants and sundry receipts. § Calendar years 1955 to 1969. ║ The basis of the food consumption estimates changed with effect from 1958; the figures now given for 1955 to 1957 include approximate adjustments to make them comparable with the later series. The series comprise estimates of household purchases of food; the cost of food ingredients to caterers and institutions, and the cost to government of school and welfare milk schemes and the welfare food scheme.