§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give the estimated public expenditure of his Department on agriculture, fisheries and forestry for 1970–71, to what extent he estimates an increase or decrease in this expenditure, in cash percentage terms by 1974–75; and, on the basis of the continuing depreciation of the purchasing value of the £ that has taken place between June, 1969 and 1st March, 1971 and to what extent he estimates the 1974–75 figures will have to be adjusted to be comparable with the 1970–71 figures.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartI presume that the hon. Member is referring to Table 2.5 of the White Paper on Public Expenditure 1969–70 to 1974–75 (Cmnd. 4578). The estimated public expenditure for 1970–71 included in that Table for which the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible is £350.7 million. The corresponding figure for 1974–75 is £207.0 million, a reduction of 41 per cent.
Since the figures for both years are at constant prices, each is comparable with the other and no adjustment to the 1974–75 figure is required.
I would draw the hon. Member's particular attention to the explanations of the forecast figures on pages 19 and 20 of the above-mentioned White Paper.