HC Deb 27 November 1963 vol 685 cc261-3
16. Mr. Brewis

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the review of livestock rearing farms made for the purpose of the Winter Keep Scheme will affect the future eligibility of farmers in Scotland to receive the Hill Cow Subsidy.

27. Commander Donaldson

asked the Secretary of Slate for Scotland whether he will ensure that Hill Cattle Subsidy will be payable to all holdings which are eligible for the Winter Keep Scheme.

Mr. Stodart

All farms accepted as eligible for Winter Keep Grants will also be eligible for Hill Cattle Subsidy, but it does not follow that because a farmer is ineligible for Winter Keep Grant he will necessarily lose the Hill Cattle Subsidy.

The review to which my hon. Friend the Member for Galloway refers, however, has brought to light a number of anomalies which must now be corrected. As a result a small number of farmers who at present receive Hill Cattle Subsidy will cease to be eligible. We will inform these farmers as soon as possible. On the other hand there will be farmers who are not at present getting Hill Cattle Subsidy who will be able to claim it in future.

I would add that, in order to give farmers who must be excluded from the Scheme time to make any necessary adjustments in their husbandry, the Hill Cattle Subsidy will be paid to them both for this year and for 1964.

Mr. Brewis

Can my hon. Friend say what number of farmers will now become eligible for the Hill Cow Subsidy? Will he, in particular, say whether upland dairy farmers who give up their majority dairying interests will become eligible automatically for the subsidy?

Mr. Stodart

On the first point, I cannot give any specific figure of how many will actually receive the Hill Cattle Subsidy, because many who might be eligible might not necessarily claim it. As to the dairy farmer, I think I can say that if he rebalanced his production and went in for a certain number of hill cows he would become eligible for the subsidy.

Commander Donaldson

To put the previous question in a slightly different form, can my hon. Friend say how many farmers are now in receipt of this support and how many are likely to be ineligible?

Mr. Stodart

I think that about 16,000 are eligible for the Hill Cow Subsidy at the moment, although not all claim it, and I shall be very surprised if more than 50 altogether are excluded from it.

Mr. Baxter

What measure is used to show whether a farmer qualifies for the Winter Keep Scheme or for the Hill Cow Subsidy Scheme?

Mr. Stodart

In order to be eligible for these schemes a farm must consist predominantly of livestock rearing land, as it is classified, or for Hill Cattle Subsidy it must have an area of such land which would form the basis of a separate hill enterprise, and it must be predominantly mountain, hill or heath.

Sir John MacLeod

What machinery is there for appeals for farmers judged to be ineligible? Is my hon. Friend aware of the very widespread feeling in the Scottish Highlands against the Winter Keep Scheme taking the place of the M.A.P.? Farmers are very worried indeed. Will my hon. Friend look into this?

Mr. Stodart

I think that that is going slightly wider than the immediate Question. I am, of course, aware that people are worried about winter keep. In fact, I am certain that I shall go to my grave with the words "winter keep" written on my heart.

Mr. Ross

When?

Mr. Stodart

As to appeals, I shall be only too ready to seek help which the members of the consultative panel which has been set up to deal with appeals in connection with the Winter Keep Scheme may care to give me on the matter of qualification for the Hill Cow Subsidy.