HC Deb 01 December 1949 vol 470 cc1321-2
61. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will give the main heads of the direct subsidies to British farmers estimated by his Department to amount to £25 million per annum.

Mr. T. Williams

To the nearest quarter of a million pounds, the figures for the United Kingdom for the current year, to which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food alluded on 21st November, are: Ploughing grant—£6¼ million; Hill sheep, hill cattle and hill farming generally—£4 million; Calf subsidy—£7 million; Lime—£5¾ million Drainage, water supplies and miscellaneous—£2½ million; making a total of £25£ million.

Mr. Hurd

As this Question was originally addressed to the Minister of Food, because it was he who got so hopelessly mixed up between food subsidies and agricultural subsidies, will the Minister of Agriculture particularly draw the attention of his right hon. Friend to the real facts which he has now given the House?

Mr. Williams

I believe that my right hon. Friend corrected his original statement the day he made a slight error.