HC Deb 18 October 1973 vol 861 cc253-4W
24. Mr. Wiggin

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he now has adequate information to assess the quantity and quality of the recent grain harvest; and what effect this is likely to have on the price of animal feeding stuffs during the forthcoming year.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Final estimates are not yet available but the latest indications are that the 1973 United Kingdom cereals harvest may slightly exceed last year's record level of 15¼ million tons. Quality is variable but this should not affect feeding values.

Because of a large number of other factors it is impossible to say precisely what effect the recent harvest will have on the price of animal feeding stuffs during the coming year, but the high level of production should help to stabilise the feeding stuffs market.