§ 36. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increases in agricultural output are expected in Scotland in the coming year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownIt would be imprudent to make precise forecasts because agricultural output depends upon unpredictable factors such as the weather. The recent White Paper, "Farming and the Nation", however, looked forward to an expansion in United Kingdom agricultural production. The volumes of both crop and livestock output rose in the past year as did most output prices and, given normal weather conditions, I am confident that these trends will be maintained overall.