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Mr. Greenway
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the food consumed in the United Kingdom during each of the past 10 years has had to be imported; and what has been the cost.
Mr. Wiggin
The information requested is as follows:
| FOOD IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM | ||
| As a percentage of total United Kingdom food consumption | Cost | |
| £ m. | ||
| 1968–69* | 47·9 | 1,556 |
| 1969–70* | 47·0 | 1,589 |
| 1970 | 46·5 | 1,605 |
| 1971 | 46·5 | 1,738 |
| 1972 | 45·5 | 1,800 |
| 1973 | 45·9 | 2,288 |
| 1974 | 46·9 | 2,718 |
| 1975 | 45·6 | 3,104 |
| 1976 | 45·4 | 3,727 |
| 1977 | 47·9 | 4,558 |
| 1978 | 48·1 | 4,840 |
| Notes: | ||
| *July June years; figures not available for calendar years before 1970. | ||
Economic Trends in October 1979—where United Kingdom food production is expressed as a percentage of food consumption—self-sufficiency rose from 49 per cent. to 56 per cent. between 1970 1978.