HC Deb 11 February 1982 vol 17 c451W
Mr. Myles

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the British level of self-sufficiency in terms of (a) production of indigenous food and of (b) total food consumption in every year since 1964.

Mr. Peter Walker

The figures for calendar years from 1970 are as follows:

Value of home production of food as a percentage of:*
All food consumed in All indigenous-type
the United Kingdom food consumed in the
United Kingdom
1970 47.0 59.1
1971 48.4 60.5
1972 51.3 63.5
1973 50.6 63.2
1974 48.2 60.4
1975 53.9 66.9
1976 51.6 64.6
1977 49.6 63.8
1978 53.1 67.0
1979 54.5 69.0
1980 60.5 74.8

* After adjustment for net foreign trade in agricultural inputs (feed, seed and livestock).

Comparable figures are not available for earlier years. However, it is estimated that the corresponding percentages for the three-year period 1966–67 to 1968–69 would be approximately 44 per cent. for all food and 56 per cent. for indigenous-type food.