§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his estimates of United Kingdom beef, mutton and lamb, and pigmeat production, respectively, in 1973.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartMeat production forecasts are necessarily uncertain because factors such as retention of animals for breeding, imports of stores and exports can vary significantly and cause marked changes.
We expect home-killed production of beef and pigmeat in the United Kingdom to increase in 1973. Assuming average weather conditions this winter, and remembering the unusually high lambing percentage which was achieved last year, home-killed production of mutton and lamb in 1973 should be at about the same level as in 1972.