§ 41. Mr. Loveysasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider making arrangements whereby the fertiliser subsidy far agricultural use is paid direct to the manufacturer instead of to individual farmers, with a view to saving administrative costs.
Mr. VaneThis has been considered on a number of occasions. If it were done it would be difficult to ensure that the full benefit would go to agriculture as required by statute. It is therefore thought that the present arrangement is the best.
§ Mr. LoveysIs my hon. Friend aware that it was because I considered the previous replies unsatisfactory that I have raised the matter again? Is it not the case that at present the Ministry has to supply forms to the merchants, the merchants have to send the forms to the farmers to complete part of them, the farmers then send them back to the merchants to complete the other half, the merchants then send the forms to the Ministry to be checked and the Ministry then pays the individual farmers separately? Surely there could be a considerable saving in administrative costs?