§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who will represent the United Kingdom at the FAO World Food Conference later this year; and if he will make a statement on the policy the United Kingdom will pursue at this conference.
§ Mr. PeartI plan myself to lead the United Kingdom delegation to this conference.
The need to ensure adequate supplies of food for the world is a matter of the greatest importance. The Government hope that the conference will encourage action to increase efficient production, particularly in those parts of the world where there is the greatest unsatisfied demand. The conference should also consider problems resulting from fluctuations in supplies of foodstuffs and the ways in which continuity of supplies might be better assured. The oil situation has serious implications 325W for world food supplies through its impact on the supply and price of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs; the conference should consider how best to minimise any adverse effects on food production.
The world food situation is a changing one, and supply and demand prospects are at present more than usually unclear. The United Kingdom is taking a full part in the conference's preparatory committee, which is assessing the major relevant factors, and the Government will ensure that their policies respond to the questions at issue as they develop.