Indeed, there has been a Crisis in Farm Incomes.

Following our exchanges at our last agriculture Question Time about the continuing Crisis in Farm Incomes, and the related increase in the number of farmers and their families who are now receiving various social security benefits, does the Minister share my surprise at what was revealed yesterday by the answers to my written questions to the Department of Social Security?

As he is meeting the president of the National Farmers Union tomorrow on other business, will he take this opportunity to tell us in the House - as a means of approaching the Farm Incomes Crisis - whether he shares the NFU leadership's view that early entry into European monetary union would help to alleviate many of the current difficulties?