§ 6. Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the present level of income of hill sheep farmers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BuchanThe 1967 Annual Review White Paper recognised the effect of the fall in store prices a year ago on the business of hill sheep farmers, and the Review settlement gave substantial additional assistance to this sector of the industry. Prices for lambs and cast ewes at the sales this autumn have shown a considerable improvement on last year, but until the sales are over it is not possible to make a realistic assessment of the financial returns from the 1967 lamb crop.
§ Mr. MonroWill the hon. Gentleman agree that he is over-estimating when he 1703 says that there has been a considerable improvement in prices? There has been only one increase of a few shillings, and they are still much below 1965 and 1964. Will he now take urgent steps to help hill farmers?
§ Mr. BuchanI am aware of the problems facing the hill sheep industry in Scotland. A good deal of confidence has returned as a result of the specific steps that we have taken, such as the increased subsidy to hill sheep and the extension of the Scheme to the uplands. A good deal of confidence has been restored, and some of the indications this autumn show that our measures are beginning to bite.
§ Mr. StodartWill the hon. Gentleman confirm that he is in no degree complacent about the situation? Is he aware that the prices on the market of lambs today are still less than in 1964?
§ Mr. BuchanI am not complacent. I have been having discussions with a number of people, both with the farmers themselves and, perhaps more important, with people involved in research and technology in this connection.