§ 17. Captain Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the numbers of livestock of all kinds in Scotland as disclosed by the December returns; and how these figures compare with previous years.
§ Mr. J. StuartAs the reply contains a number of figures, I shall, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Captain DuncanDoes the reply show a large reduction in the number of sheep? If it does, can my right hon. Friend explain the reason?
§ Mr. StuartIt does show a decrease, compared with 1953, of about 300,000 in the number of sheep, but these figures are liable to error as they are not yet complete. They are based on a sample.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes the reply indicate the very grave losses which were sustained as a result of the recent heavy snowstorms?
§ Mr. StuartThe Question deals with last year.
§ Captain DuncanMay I ask my right hon Friend whether the large decrease in the number of sheep may be due to the earlier killing off of lambs, and that there is not a big reduction in the number of breeding sheep?
§ Mr. StuartIt may be so, but I am glad to say that there has been a considerable increase in the number of cattle, pigs and fowls, so we are getting something.
Following is the reply:The following are the numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs and fowls in Scotland, as disclosed by the provisional results of the December census, with comparable final figures as at December, 1953, and December, 1939:
(000) — December, 1954* December, 1953 December, 1939 Cattle 1,625 1,598 1,307 Sheep 5,313 5,619 5,904 Pigs 577 522 287 Fowls 6,372 6,585 5,315 * The December, 1954, figures are based on a 50 per cent, sample of returns and are, therefore, subject to a margin of error.