Farm Produce (World Prices)

48.

Mr. Tom Cox
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the effect on agricultural employment of world prices for United Kingdom farmers' produce.

Mr. Donald Thompson
Employment in agriculture is influenced by many factors such as agricultural prices, the level of costs, investment, changes in technology and general economic conditions in the country. I have no reliable estimate of the effect of the kind of hypothetical circumstance envisaged.