asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage food prices have risen so far this year.

Between 19th January and 21st September—the latest date for which information is available—the Food Index rose by 7·2 per cent.

Is the Minister aware of his growing reputation as a one-man national disaster? Does he not understand the grave damage that the Government's policies, particularly the scandal of food prices, are doing to millions of people? If he cannot or will not make any attempt to redeem the Prime Minister's election promises, why does he not do the honest thing and resign?

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will join me in recognising that the two main causes of increased food prices are world prices, over which we have no control, and wage increases, over which we have a great deal of control and which are a larger element than any other.

Will my right hon. Friend say what movement there has been in the last few months in the price of food manufactured in the United Kingdom?

Since May this year the movement in the food index has been just under 1 per cent. This is a time of the year when seasonal factors operate, but it is a more satisfactory figure.

What measures is the Minister contemplating to prevent unjustified price increases arising from metrication? How has he been helped in this matter by his experience with decimalisation?

We are a long way off metrication yet, so that question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to monitor increases in prices.

There are already satisfactory arrangements for keeping me informed of changes in food prices.

Is the Minister aware that entry into the E.E.C. will figure quite prominently among the reasons which increasingly will be given for future increases in food prices? How is he to tell the people of this country which prices are quite genuinely caused by E.E.C. entry and which prices are caused by genuine profiteering, or is the Minister not serious about this matter after all?

There will be plenty of ways of calculating this assessment without having to have a fresh monitoring system. The Department of Employment's Index of Retail Prices and my own Department's regular surveys on retail prices and voluntary notification of proposed price changes by manufacturers already do this.

Is it not a fact that in July the Minister promised the House that he would treat the whole question of food prices—and I quote—"very seriously"? Will he confirm that, as a result of his serious study, food prices have been stabilised since July—which is no doubt the result of his studies and assiduity in this matter?

I have already answered the question about the period between May and September. My hon. Friend may like to know that the sub-group covering foods manufactured in the United Kingdom, which accounts for over 40 per cent. of the total weight of the food index, has risen by only 1½ per cent. between May and September this year. This is the lowest rate of increase for over a year.

Is the Minister aware that the House and the country are deeply concerned because he is not monitoring food prices? What notice is given to him by manufacturers of foodstuffs of increases in prices, and to what extent does he probe these increases to find out the precise reason for them?

I always thought that the House and the country were far more worried about whether prices went up rather than whether I was monitoring them—that seems to be the most important point. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, the Government's policy is to reply on competition—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Yes, and competition in both the manufacturing and the retail trade is working far better than it did in the days of the Labour Government.

The Minister has not answered my question. Will he say what notice he receives of increases in food prices and tell the House what he does about it subsequently?

Unlike the Labour Party, we do not believe in requiring manufacturers to give us notification of every increase in price, nor do we require them to come to the Ministry and explain, as they used to in the old days by getting together, why it is necessary to have an increase. We believe in competition working.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the increase in food prices since 8th June, 1970.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the increase in retail food prices during 16 months ended 31st October, 1971 or nearest convenient date.

Between 16th June, 1970 and 21st September, 1971—the latest date for which information is available—the food index rose by 11·3 per cent.

Is the Minister aware that, in answer to a previous Question, he stated that one of the main reasons for rising prices was wage claims which had been negotiated during the past 12 months? With the aid of his super-perfect monitoring device, to which he referred earlier, will he tell us precisely how much of that increase was due to wage claims? Does he realise that this increase in food prices of over 11 per cent. represents in real terms millions of starving old-age pensioners below the poverty line and millions of other people who are unable to exist on the paltry wages about which he talks?

The answer to the serious part of the hon. Gentleman's question is, 50 per cent.

Though the increase is large over the 16-month period, will my right hon. Friend now confirm that:it recent months he has taken short and faltering steps in my direction—

Oh!

God help him!

No, not "God help him"—and that prices are now levelling out? Will he be a little optimistic about the future and say that he expects in the near future to be able to stabilise food prices?

Judging by my hon. Friend's recent performance, to take faltering steps towards him would be something I should try hard to avoid. Apart from that, there are signs that the food price storm is beginning to subside. The increase in the world price of dairy produce alone since 1970 accounts for 2½ per cent. of the total increase in the food index.

Will the Minister concede that this is the biggest hoax which has ever been perpetrated on the people of this country since the General Election in 1970? Will he also recognise his responsibility, as a member of the Cabinet, to take cognisance of old-age pensioners, particularly, and lower-paid workers? Will the Government make a declaration of a change, in the interests of the people of this country?

When it comes to talking about hoaxes, we have a lot to learn from right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he will hold discussions with food manufacturers and distributors to restrain price increases.

From discussions which I have had with food manufacturers and distributors, it is clear that they are well aware of the importance of price restraint.

Is the Minister telling the House that that is the limit of his concern—that he has had discussions? In view of the statement which he made a few minutes ago, that prices are still rising too rapidly, should he not give far greater attention to this matter? Is he aware that, because of his lack of interest, millions of people in this country are seeing their living standards eroded week by week, especially old people, and that it is an insult to tell them, as the Minister does, to shop around? Will he tell the House what kind of action he is taking to restrain price increases?

I sympathise particularly with old people who find that prices have risen. The Government have taken action by cutting S.E.T. in half—[Interruption.]—by reductions in purchase tax and by taking firm action to control increases by the nationalised industries. All these things are producing a more satisfactory situation, which right hon. and hon. Gentlemen opposite should applaud.

Does my right hon. Friend think that he has a much greater chance of reducing food prices than we have of getting a reduction in electricity, gas, and coal prices, which are of equal importance to old people? Will he just hit the nationalised industries on the head for their increases which are doing untold harm to old people?

rose—

Nonsense.

Shut up all of you.

My hon. Friend knows that for the year from the end of July onwards the nationalised industries are sticking to the C.B.I. initiative of 5 per cent. This is at considerable cost to the general taxpayer who will have to subsidise them to do so.

That is not much of an answer.

Shut up.

Does the Minister agree that, so far from food prices levelling out, as his hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) said, non-seasonal foods, which we must consider at this time of year, went up in price by 2½ per cent. between June and September, a rate of increase in a year of 10 per cent? Does the Minister think that he is relying far too heavily on the C.B.I's request to keep increases to 5 per cent. and that he will not hold prices down to anything like that level unless he is prepared to intervene more strongly than he is at the moment?

The hon. Gentleman must recognise that the sub-group covering foods manufactured in the United Kingdom, which accounts for over 40 per cent. of the total weight in the food index, rose by only 1½ per cent. between May and September this year and that this is the lowest rate of increase in over a year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the application of value-added tax upon foodstuffs.

I have received a number of representations on this subject.

Did the representations received by the Minister contain any expression of anxiety on this matter? Will he make clear to the House that neither foodstuffs nor the processing and distribution of foodstuffs will incur V.A.T. and that the Government intend to keep the explicit pledges which were given?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has already stated that food will be relieved of the tax, except perhaps for items now subject to purchase tax. It is not yet known what system of relief from V.A.T. we shall adopt, and much depends on that.

There are certain items which are now subject to purchase tax, such as potato crisps and chocolate-covered biscuits. Does not my right hon. Friend agree that when the tax system is changed there will be a strong case for the remission of tax on these articles of foodstuffs, except for luxury items?

I have noted what my hon. Friend said. His views are shared by the food manufacturers.

When will an announcement be made on whether food will be exempt from V.A.T. or will receive a zero rating? Does not the Minister agree that this is a matter of the utmost importance? If food is exempt rather than zero-rated, manufacturers will not get back tax paid on machinery, packaging and other inputs into their product, and that could increase the price of food products by as much as 40 per cent. of the rate of V.A.T.

If that happened, the Government's commitment not to tax food would not be honoured. The hon. Gentleman asked me when an announcement will be made. That is not for me, but I will convey his remarks to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the operation of minimum import prices and import levies.

Since the schemes became effective, my right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about them from associations in this country and from two interested governments. These representations have ranged from general comments to questions of trade practice.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the cereal growers have no confidence in the Government's present policies and that the rest of the industry shudders to think what will happen when deficiency payments are completely removed? What action will the Government take to restore confidence?

I am quite certain that cereal minimum import prices are doing the job they were intended to do. One has only to look at the spot prices quoted on the grain market today to see that they are closely related; and, in a year of record crops, I believe that without such minimum import prices, these prices would be much lower.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a widespread belief that, in the prevailing world situation of falling cereal prices, the system of forward buying by importers of cereals is tending to undermine the whole scheme?

If that were happening, there would not be the close relationship between minimum import prices now and spot prices and minimum import prices in the future and the forward price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the present operation of the Bacon Stabilisation Fund; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend will know, my right hon. Friends and I have decided that the method of calculating stabilisation payments introduced last April shall continue unchanged for a further three months, after which we shall review the position again in the light of the evidence then available.

I congratulate both sides of the industry on the increase in the share of the bacon market, but what can my right hon. Friend do to convince British housewives of the need to purchase more home-produced bacon rather than imported bacon? In the long run would this not help to reduce the Bacon Stabilisation Fund?

Yes, Sir. Our share of the market has been going up, but there is still a gap between the price realised for British bacon and the price realised for Danish bacon. It is that gap which leads to the large stabilisation payment and this is the gap which we have to close. We have to encourage British housewives to eat British bacon and must show them that the quality is as good as it is.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the Meat and Livestock Commission.

I announced on 30th September the appointment of a new Chairman and three other members of the Commission. I am satisfied that the Commission will continue to play a useful rôle in the meat and livestock industry.

Will the continuation of the Commission be worth while in bringing about better marketing prospects for home-produced meat in Britain and will the Minister say how the Commission is likely to fit within the context of the common agricultural policy?

I believe that it is too early yet to say how the Commission will fit into the context of the C.A.P., but we have in mind duties for the Commission in this respect. Under the new chairman, and with some of the new appointments which have been made, it is the Commission's intention to concentrate much more on the marketing of British meat and to explain to housewives what good value for money it is.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps towards the better marketing of agricultural products he proposes to take by means of legislation to amend the Restrictive Trade Practices Acts, 1956 and 1968.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the relevance of the Restrictive Trade Practices Acts with regard to agriculture; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry have received a memoranrum from the Farmers' Unions on the subject of the restrictive trade practices legislation. Discussions are still proceeding with the National Farmers' Union and there is nothing further I can usefully say at present.

Will my hon. Friend realise that this is an urgent matter since the three National Farmers' Unions have represented that any advice they give on the Government's policy for the expansion of agriculture and efficient marketing is being hampered by the present legislation?

I realise the anxieties of the National Farmers' Unions, but this is a highly complex subject. There is no evidence of acute difficulties or of anything vital being held up, and the marketing boards and various other organisations are protected from the legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on foot-and-mouth regulations in the European Economic Community, should Great Britain join.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the existing animal health regulations of the United Kingdom will continue unchanged after United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community.

As my right hon. Friend told the House during the debate on 21st October, we are still negotiating on a number of problems arising from differences between our systems of disease control and those which operate in the Community. I cannot at present add to what he said.

Will my hon. Friend reassure the industry that he is not prepared to negotiate any arrangements allowing stock vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease to be imported? Furthermore, will he reassure the industry that he will not bargain our animal health regulations in any way against those of the Continent, but will seek with our future European partners to tighten up their regulations and to bring them up to our standards?

I certainly subscribe to what my hon. Friend said, and I would remind him that my right hon. Friend has made it clear that he will agree to nothing which will give rise to unjustifiable risks to the standards which have been achieved here.

Will the hon. Gentleman expand his answer? Is he saying that the Government will oppose any importation of vaccinated stock into this country?

Having followed the words of my right hon. Friend, the right hon. Gentleman must know that this is a matter for negotiation and discussion at present. My right hon. Friend informed the House about a group being formed in Brussels to go into this matter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the Milk Marketing Board, should Great Britain enter the European Economic Community.

I expect the essential functions of the Milk Marketing Board to continue.

Does my hon. Friend envisage the continuation of the two-tier system on prices incorporating a standard quantity?

On such matters as the pooling of prices, it has been agreed with the E.E.C. that producer organisations of this kind may do virtually as they see fit in order to get the best return for their money.

Have there been any negotiations about the pooled transport price arrangement, which appears contradictory to E.E.C. regulations? Can this be expected to continue if we join the Common Market?

The question of transport costs is another matter about which agreement has been reached with the E.E.C. An organisation of this kind can send its milk where it likes in order to get the best return for its producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on hill farming prospects when Great Britain enters the European Economic Community.

Entry should give our hill farmers a stronger market for their stock. Producer prices for beef, mutton and lamb are higher in the Community and the consumption of meat per head in the existing Member countries is rising faster than it is here. The Community also recognise the need for special action in areas with special difficulties, and I am satisfied that we shall be able to give the continuing assistance needed to maintain the incomes of farmers in the hills.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that encouraging reply, may I ask whether he is aware of the growing importance of sheep husbandry in areas like Herefordshire and the Welsh Border? Will it be helped and encouraged further by this Government?

My hon. Friend must have noticed the quite astonishing change in attitude amongst sheep producers between this year and last.

Having given that answer, is the hon. Gentleman aware that in West Germany it is almost impossible for the ordinary housewife to buy beef, which is a very important consumer product, at a price that she can afford, even with West Germany's enhanced level of wage rates?

I do not know whether my experience of West Germany is greater or less than that of the hon. Gentleman, but that is not what I have heard.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on negotiations over fisheries policy with the European Economic Community; and what further representations he has received from the fishing industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest position regarding the discussions with the European Economic Community over fisheries policy; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 11th November.—[Vol. 825, c. 1238–46.]

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the industry is well satisfied with the Government's stated intention of maintaining the status quo and of not accepting any narrower limits than Norway? Will he comment on the statement which appeared in the Press that negotiations timed for the end of this month have been postponed and that the Commission is wholly unsympathetic to the Government's point of view?

I cannot comment on either of those points. I have had no information in that vein on either of those points. I think that, from the last talks which my right hon. and learned Friend had, there was a growing understanding, both at home and in the Community, of the case we had put and of what was necessary.

In view of the shadow boxing display put up last Thursday by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which was intensely disliked by my right hon. and hon. Friends and myself, will the right hon. Gentleman, if only for his own constituents in Lowestoft who are fishermen, give the House a firm assurance that we shall not accept any less or any worse terms than any other applicant?

We have always said—I said this very clearly in the debate—that we must and would expect to receive comparable treatment with Norway and the other candidate countries. I reaffirm that today in the strongest possible language.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what tonnage of home-grown barley he estimates will be taken up by the brewing industry this year.

About 800,000 tons.

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for that reply. Can he give any idea of the future uptake by the industry of home-grown barley? Does he expect it to rise, to fall, or to remain static?

Although prediction is always dangerous, it is almost certain that the uptake will increase as the years go by. Beer consumption is increasing by between 2 and 3 per cent. every year, and I expect the use of home-grown barley to rise in line with it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to expand home sugar beet production in the next three years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave on 19th October to Questions from my hon. Friends the Members for King's Lynn (Mr. Brocklebank-Fowler) and Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt).—[Vol. 823, c. 532–3; Vol. 823, c. 82.]

Can my hon. Friend assure us that, in any case, we shall have the necessary handling capacity to meet expanded production from the existing acreage in the years ahead?

Yes, Sir. The British Sugar Corporation has a £30 million expansion programme in hand for the factories which exist at present.

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that, since the negotiations in Brussels, Her Majesty's Government's first priority in this connection must be to maintain the supply of Commonwealth sugar to this country? Should not the Government lend their influence to a policy of restraint in this country and in Europe in the consumption of beet sugar?

Until the end of 1974, we are taking the whole of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement quotas. Thereafter, we have a firm assurance from the E.E.C. of a secure and continuing market for the Commonwealth sugar quota countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for promoting the construction of new sugar beet factories in the United Kingdom.

None, Sir. The provision of beet processing capacity is essentially a commercial function; but the British Sugar Corporation assure me they could provide substantially increased capacity by the time it is likely to be required.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is prepared to give a firm estimate of the annual increase in domestic sugar beet acreage likely after 1974?

No, Sir. I cannot give such an assurance at this stage. If I may put it rather colloquially, after 1974 I think that there will be all to play for.

Since the right hon. Gentleman was thanked for his reply about factories, will not he consider keeping in production some of the factories already in being? There is one in Fife, for example, where people badly need jobs.

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern. It is one that is shared by many hon. Members on both sides of the House. However, primarily this is a matter for my right hon. Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the deep concern in Scotland about the apparent lack of progress in the negotiations between the private enterprise consortium and the British Sugar Corporation in this matter? Will he please give some further reassurance about acreage questions which are of such concern?

When my hon. Friend and I last answered Questions, my hon. Friend made it clear that acreage was not the main problem. The main problem is agreement between two independent companies—the consortium and the British Sugar Corporation—on a price for the factory. That is the point that the negotiations have reached at this stage.

What did the right hon. Gentleman mean when he said that after 1974 there would be "all to play for"? Does not that contradict his hon. Friend's reply to the question of my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) about the future of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement? Will the right hon. Gentleman be more precise?

After 1974, the Australian quota is phased out, which means that there will be an additional 335,000 tons available for distribution. That is the quantity to which referred as being "all to play for".

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to expand beef production.

Action taken since the Government took office has been effective in strengthening confidence and encouraging expansion in beef production. We will consider at the 1972 Annual Review whether further action is needed to further this desirable objective.

Bearing in mind the worldwide down-turn in livestock production as well as the fact that the raw material of beef production from dairy herds will be affected adversely by the reduction in the number of in-calf heifers, does my hon. Friend think that beef output in this country will be able to cope with the demand?

The beef herd is continuing to grow. Store prices are extremely high, and there is every reason for great optimism in respect of that commodity.

At the 1972 Review, will the hon. Gentleman be able to ensure that beef expansion comes more from the beef herd than from the dairy herd, with all the perils which might be incurred in the latter course?

At this stage, I do not wish to express any assurance about what the 1972 Review will contain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the use of a light aircraft by the Potato Marketing Board to detect unlicensed potato growers.

This is one of the measures the Board has adopted in order to discharge its responsibilities for preventing evasion of the Potato Marketing Scheme and for keeping actual plantings of potatoes as close as possible to the target acreage.

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that there are two principles at stake? In a world which has its Bangla Deshes, does the hon. Gentleman think it right that one of the most prosperous countries should be limiting artificially its potato supply? Will he confer with his right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary to see whether our potato surplus cannot be used as an instrument in a humane foreign policy? Even if artificial limitation is right and inevitable, is not prevention better than detection? Will the hon. Gentleman ensure that illicit growers are warned by advertising which is at least as effective as that directed towards television licence evaders, before they are caught red-handed by this "spud" spy in the sky?

I have no doubt that the hon. Gentleman has secured the headlines he wants for that tomorrow morning.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to make an announcement about his review of the functions of the Forestry Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on forestry policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy regarding forestry development; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's review of forestry policy is now nearing completion and an announcement will be made as soon as practicable.

Will the Minister give the House an assurance that he recognises that the Forestry Commission has environmental as well as commercial responsibilities? Will he also give an assurance that he will help the Forestry Commission to continue to pursue environmental policies by giving special financial help?

I think that both those matters have been the subject of consideration in the report.

Could my hon. Friend set up an independent inquiry in the meantime to look into the whole of forestry policy, to see whether broad-leafed trees can be preserved and planted in order to beautify the countryside, and will the Government encourage more integration between farming and forestry to help stem rural depopulation?

With respect to my hon. Friend, until we see the result of this report I do not think we had better set up another inquiry just yet. I take my hon. Friend's point about deciduous trees. I think the Forestry Commission is well aware of this. In reply to the question about forestry and farming integration, I can assure my hon. Friend that he is preaching to the converted.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that those who love the countryside—and I hope that he includes himself in that category—feel that we have planted far too many conifers in the past and that they march along the hillsides like battalions of soldiers? Does he appreciate that he should use all the influence he possesses to persuade the Forestry Commission to plant far more deciduous trees?

This is a case in which one has to ask the Commission—and I think it has responded to the request—to take a balanced outlook at the economic and environmental issues. Undoubtedly from the point of view of the economics, softwood is well ahead. However, the Commission is very well aware of this point because I have been in touch with the Commission about the felling of deciduous trees.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will promote a campaign to encourage caterers and the public generally to provide more fresh vegetables and fruit in menus.

No, Sir. A number of organisations are already active in this field and it is for them to consider whether to intensify their efforts.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is an important question of the nation's diet which is increasingly deficient in Vitamin C, due largely to the almost complete disappearance of fresh vegetables and fruit from catering of all kinds? As this is already having serious effects on health, including a return of signs of scurvy, will the hon. Gentleman consult his nutritionists again on this?

I do not think it is for the Government to institute a campaign on this matter again. I think it is better done by those with expert knowledge of it. There are many bodies in the field, including the British Farm Produce Council, the fruit producers, apple and pear producers and the mushroom growers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the progress of the Dutch Elm disease; and what steps his Department is taking to arrest its spread.

The present serious outbreak is worst in the Severn Valley and Southern England.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there are many diseased trees and that the cost of felling them and burning them is altogether excessive?

The order that has been made under the Plant Health Act gives powers to the authorities in question either to cause owners to fell or to do the felling themselves. There is no power under the Act to pay the costs of felling by private owners.

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that one of the problems in the spring is the tremendous amount of non-identification of diseased trees before the leaves fall? What steps does the hon. Gentleman propose to take to get immediate identification of the disease and remedial action taken at the beginning of the spring before the disease spreads?

I think a great deal of identification has been done by the extremely good efforts of the local authorities within the last two or three months before the leaves fell. Of course, winter is the time for getting the trees down. Provided we get a hard winter—and the long-range forecast this morning said that we shall get a hard winter—the situation may be assisted a great deal.