§ 18. Mr. Ashtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the percentage productivity increase in farming output for 1978.
§ Mr. BishopPercentage changes in labour productivity are less meaningful over a single year than over a longer period, because the weather plays so large a part in output. However, the 1979 annual review White Paper shows that the index of labour productivity is forecast to be 117 for 1978, compared with 113 for 1977. In the longer-term, productivity has risen by nearly 4½ per cent. per annum over the past 10 years.