HC Deb 16 March 1978 vol 946 c281W
23. Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the damage caused to farm products by the recent severe weather conditions.

Mr. John Silkin

It is still too early to make a reliable assessment of the damage, especially in the South-West. Many individual farmers have suffered badly but total losses may not be as severe as was first feared.