§ Mr. Weetchasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he 497W will announce the outcome of the 1977 Annual Review of Agriculture.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe Annual Review of United Kingdom agriculture has now been completed and the results are set out in a White Paper which has been presented to Parliament today. The White Paper deals only with the economic condition and prospects of the industry; decisions on agricultural support for 1977–78 under EEC arrangements and, where appropriate, on United Kingdom guaranteed prices for 1977–78 will be taken later.
As a result of the drought, 1976–77 has been a difficult year for agriculture and production has not expanded as expected at the time of the last Review. The net product of the industry is forecast to fall by about 10 per cent. and the net income by about 9 per cent. in real terms; aggregate cost increases since the last Review are assessed at £895 million. There has been a further fall in the volume of new investment, particularly in buildings and works. The
FOOD SUPPLIES PER HEAD MOVING INTO CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (Kg. per head) 1972 (per annum) 1975 (per annum) 1976 (January-June)* Canned fruit … … … … … 8.1 6.8 3.1 Butter … … … … … 7.2 8.2 4.2 Cheese … … … … … 5.4 6.3 2.8 Beef and veal … … … … … 21.0 23.5 10.6 Mutton and lamb … … … … … 9.2 8.3 4.0 Pork … … … … … 12.3 10.3 4.9 Bacon and ham … … … … … 11.2 8.7 4.2 Poultry meat … … … … … 12.0 11.3 5.3 * Provisional.