HC Deb 12 March 1959 vol 601 cc1571-3

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the charge will will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, for the salaries and expenses of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the Crofters Commission; for grants and subsidies to farmers and others for the encouragement of food production and the improvement of agriculture; for certain payments in implementation of agricultural price guarantees; and for grants, grants in aid and expenses in connection with services to agriculture; including land drainage and flood services; purchase, improvement and management of land; land settlement; public works in the congested districts and roads in other livestock rearing areas; services in connection with livestock and compensation for slaughter of diseased animals; provision and operation of machinery; training and labour schemes; control of pests; agricultural education, research and advisory services; marketing; and agricultural credits.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Lord John Hope)

Perhaps I can take the headings under this Vote as they come and explain to the Committee the reasons for them.

A.4—Crofters Commission. The increase is necessitated by a greater staff complement authorised after a visit of a Treasury Staff Inspector in June, 1958, and by a recent award of 3½ per cent. increase on certain salary scales as from 1st December, 1958.

B.9—Calf Subsidy. The original estimate was based on the assumption that 300,000 calves would qualify for subsidy during the financial year 1958–59. From the outcome of the scheme to date and the 1958 June census figures, it is now estimated that the total number of calves qualifying for subsidy may be 327,000, which would commit us to expenditure of around £2,645.000. The rates of subsidy are £8.l0s and £7.l0s for steer and heifer calves respectively.

B.10—Subsidy payments in respect of hill sheep and hill cattle. The additional sum required is £65,000. One hundred pounds of the above Estimate is a token sum to meet remanet payments in respect of hill sheep subsidy from earlier years. The remainder of the Estimate is for hill cattle, the subsidy being £10 per head. From the information now available to us, it is expected that the number of hill cattle qualifying for subsidy in 1958–59 will be 6,500 more than originally estimated.

C.1—Cereals. The additional sum required is £400,000. The additional sum is required to cover—

It being half-past Nine o'clock, The CHAIRMAN proceeded, pursuant to Standing Order No. 16 (Business of Supply), to pot the Question necessary to dispose of the Vote under consideration.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, for the salaries and expenses of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland and the Crofters Commission; for grants and subsidies to farmers and others for the encouragement of food production and the improvement of agriculture; for certain payments in implementation of agricultural price guarantees; and for grants, grants in aid and expenses in connection with services to agriculture; including land drainage and flood services; purchase, improvement and management of land; land settlement; public works in the congested districts and roads in other livestock rearing areas; services in connection with livestock and compensation for slaughter of diseased animals; provision and operation of machinery; training and labour schemes; control of pests; agricultural education, research and advisory services; marketing; and agricultural credits.

The CHAIRMAN then proceeded forthwith to put severally the Questions, That the total amounts of all outstanding Estimates supplementary to those of the current financial year as have been presented seven clear days, and of all outstanding Excess Votes, be granted for the Services defined in those Supplementary Estimates and Statements of Excess.