§ 34. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many proposals for schemes under the Livestock Rearing Act have been received from Orkney and Shetland; and how many have been rejected.
§ Mr. SnaddenSince the passing of the Livestock Rearing Act, 1951, 95 proposals for improvement schemes have been received from Orkney and Shetland. During this period 23 schemes have been rejected in these counties.
§ Mr. GrimondWill the Minister agree that it is most important to get on with this business of developing land in the far North? Is he aware that some of these schemes have been rejected on the ground that a quantity of eggs was being produced on the farms? Will he look into that matter, and, if that proves to be the case, will he give instructions that such schemes are not to be turned down on that ground?
§ Mr. SnaddenPerhaps the hon. Member will give me a note of these cases. A large number of cases are at present under consideration, and the reason is that the Livestock Rearing Act has not been in operation very long. We have had a spate of applications which we are trying to deal with as quickly as possible.