§ 34. Mr. Corfieldasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will ensure that, where there is evidence of a shortage of soil magnesium, supplies of magnesian limestone made to the farmers concerned will 653 qualify for the full subsidy on delivery, despite the fact that there may be nearer sources of non-magnesian limestone available, provided only that the supplies are obtained from the nearest source of magnesian limestone.
The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agricutlure, Fisheries and Food (Mr. W. M. F. Vane)Whilst there is no provision for subsidising the cost of adding magnesium as such to the soil, magnesian lime can qualify for subsidy as a liming material under the conditions of the Agricultural Lime Scheme. Claims for subsidy on its use can be admitted in circumstances where cheaper supplies of other types of lime are obtainable, provided the applicant shows that it is being used on expert advice, and is being secured at the cheapest delivered cost from the sources of it which are available.
§ Mr. CorfieldCan my hon. Friend give an assurance that the expert advice will not be confined to members of the National Agricultural Advisory Service?
Mr. VaneThe expert advice is that of the National Agricultural Advisory Service on its own, or in support of an independent opinion.