§ 41. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and 63W Food if he will list the total amount of Government' subsidies to the farming industry for each of the past six years, and the comparable figures for the wages paid in the industry each year.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe cost of Exchequer support to agriculture in the United Kingdom, including administrative expenses, was £237.6 million in 1965–66 and £269 million in 1970–71. Total labour costs to farmers in 1965–1966 were £319 million and were forecast at £361 million for 1970–71.
The figures for the intervening years are as follows:
Year Exchequer Support (a) Total Labour Costs (b)(1) £ million £ million 1965–66 237.6 319 1966–67 229.1 320 1967–68 261.5 322 1968–69 265.4 331 1969–70 277.1 340 1970–71 269 361 All figures are on a United Kingdom basis. Sources: (a) White Papers on Annual Review and Determination of Guarantees. (b) Annual Abstract of Statistics 1971. (1) Includes the remuneration (wages, salaries and National Insurance contribution) of all those engaged in agriculture and horticulture except farmers, senior partners and their wives.