Hill Cow Subsidy (Hansard, 31 March 1965)

§ 2. Mr. Thorpe
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement about the assistance which he intends to give to those hill farmers who have been given notice of discontinuance of hill cow subsidy as a result of the recent reviews undertaken at the time of the previous Administration.

§ 33. Sir H. Studholme
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now come to a decision as to the best way of helping those farms in Devon which have been excluded from the hill cow subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement.

§ 35. Mr. Peter Mills
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the review of hill cow farmers has now been completed; and how he proposes to help those who have been excluded from this subsidy.

§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Fred Peart)
These farmers have had to be excluded from the hill cow subsidy, under the recently completed review, because their land is suitable to a material extent for dairying, fattening or cash cropping. Several of the changes made at this year's Annual Review will benefit them. Furthermore, we are giving urgent consideration to the longer-term problems of small farms and development in the hills.

§ Mr. Thorpe
Is the Minister aware that the short-term problem is that there are small farmers who are declared ineligible and who face a loss of up to £900 a year and that the Annual Price Review does 1622 nothing specifically for those hill farmers who are outside the scheme? As, furthermore, the Minister points to a decline in beef production, would it not be valuable to give these farmers immediate assistance so that they can revert to beef production?

§ Mr. Peart
The hon. Member will appreciate that I have looked carefully at the position. I cannot, however, accept his thesis that if farmers have, after all, been found to be drawing a subsidy which Parliament never intended them to draw, it is up to the Government of the day to devise special compensatory measures. This is what we are doing. I am urgently studying ways of tackling the basic problems, not only of small farmers, but of those on the uplands as well.

§ Mr. Thorpe
May we know when the result of the Minister's thinking will be made known?

§ Mr. Peart
As soon as I complete my survey of the uplands as well as of the hill areas, I will certainly convey the information to the House.

§ Sir H. Studholme
Can the Minister now answer the question which I put to him in the debate on the hill cow subsidy in the autumn about whether farmers who have been disqualified from the hill cow subsidy can be eligible under the winter keep scheme?

§ Mr. Peart
They can apply and each individual case will be considered by my Department.

§ Mr. Mills
Will the Minister bear in mind that in the particularly farming area which I represent, it is difficult—in fact, impossible—to find alternative farming methods? The farmers cannot turn to milk or to cereals. The Minister gave an assurance that he would look into the matter and see whether further legislation could be brought in to bring these people within the scheme. He has not done so in the last Price Review. The Minister should give us an answer on this subject.

§ Mr. Peart
I am looking at this matter and I have given a reply to the hon. Member. I will bear in mind all representations that are made to me. I have met representatives from the National Farmers' Union and also from the area on this question. I am sympathetic but, 1623 for the reasons which 1 have given, I could not alter the position. I will, however, consider the matter carefully.