§ 31. Mr. R. Aclandasked the Minister of Agriculture what would be the cost of His Majesty's Government's recently announced proposals relating to sheep on the basis of the prices ruling during 1938?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe cost to the Exchequer of the Government's price 1904 insurance proposals for sheep in relation to any given level of prices will depend on the monthly standard prices that are fixed corresponding to the annual standard price of 10d. per lb., on the standard weights fixed for the different classes of eligible sheep, and on the numbers of sheep in each class certified for deficiency payments in each month. On certain very broad assumptions as to these factors, it is estimated that the cost to the Exchequer had the price insurance proposals been in operation in 1938 would have been in the neighbourhood of £2,500,000.