HC Deb 14 February 1968 vol 758 cc1332-3
19. Mr. Tudor Watkins

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why his Department has proposed to the graziers on the All Arms Training Area, Senny-bridge, Breconshire, a 300 per cent. increase in the annual charges for grazing sheep within the range spread over three years from April 1968; whether he will revise this proposal and seek to impose a smaller increase; and if he will refer the matter to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for their observations.

Mr. Reynolds

Licence charges for grazing sheep at Sennybridge have not changed since 1947 and the proposed increases reflect the current value of the land for grazing.

I do not think that reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes would be appropriate in this case, but I am taking the advice of an independent valuer on the proposed changes.

Mr. Watkins

Would my hon. Friend explain how he can determine that the price to the graziers has increased, when there is no hope of increased productivity on land on this range? The Ministry has not been putting fertilisers there but the sheep.

Mr. Reynolds

The price for grazing on this land was fixed at 2s. 6d. per sheep per year in 1947, and I believe that everyone will accept that the value of that grazing has increased since then. We have scaled the increase over the next three years, and we are prepared to take the advice of an independent valuer.