§ 4. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what total of compensation for foot-and-mouth disease has been assessed since September 1967; what has been the total paid and the balance outstanding; and how many beasts have been slaughtered in the period stated.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Mackie)Up to 5th June, £26,634,832, including payments for carcases, feedingstuffs and milk seized and destroyed. All has been paid, apart from the balance of some disputed valuations amounting to about £26,000. Provisional figures of beasts slaughtered are 210,539 cattle, 104,285 sheep, 114,819 pigs and 39 goats.
§ Sir G. NabarroIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Treasury is persisting in its desire to tax this compensation for foot-and-mouth slaughter? Will he make urgent representations to the Treasury that all compensation should be tax free and that the Treasury should drop this utterly abhorrent policy?
§ Mr. MackieNo, Sir.
§ Sir G. NabarroOn a point of order. In view of that unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter again at the earliest minute— that is, next week on the Finance Bill.