asked the Minister for Agriculture if the Government are satisfied that the present level of agricultural prices gives a fair return to those on the land to enable them to offset the increasing charges due to the turnover tax.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Level of Agricultural Prices.
15.
As a good Minister for Agriculture, I am never satisfied with prices obtained by farmers, and I will continue, with my colleagues, to play my part in securing the fairest possible deal for them.
Hear, hear, Cassius Clay: "I am the best!" I am afraid that is a little too strong for all of us.
Could the Minister indicate what plans he has to offset the extra charges involved by the 2½ per cent tax?
As far as practicable, the 2½ per cent which I thought I should never hear any more about in this House——
You will hear a lot more about it.
——does not apply to farmers' raw material at all.
All fertilisers have gone up by 15/- a ton.
To anybody who thinks about the matter at all, it is obvious that there will be increases in prices all round which the farmers will have to meet like anybody else.
You can always depend on the best to give the best.