asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect on the total number of jobs in the United Kingdom of a cut of 6 per cent. in milk production.

Changes to the numbers of jobs in agriculture, the agricultural supplying industries and in milk processing and distribution will depend on many factors, of which the quota cut is but one. Dairy farmers, facing a cut in their milk output, will strive to substitute or expand other enterprises. Even with reduced quotas milk output would still be above the level of the mid-1970s although numbers employed will be less reflecting the productivity improvements achieved.