§ 14. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the extent to which his proposals to increase fertiliser and lime subsidies will improve in 1970 the resources of farmers who bought their fertilisers and lime before 18th March, 1970; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MackieWith a pattern of deliveries similar to the previous year, the improvement on deliveries in 1970 would be £5–6 million. This represents the extra subsidy on about three-quarters of the fertilisers and six-sevenths of the lime estimated to be delivered in 1970.
Over a whole twelve months, the improvement would be about £10 million.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithWill not the Parliamentary Secretary look at this the other way round? Did not one-quarter of the farmers order their fertilisers before March, so that they will not benefit from the proposals in the Price Review? Is not this again a tax on prudence which the Government are imposing?
§ Mr. MackieIf I may say so, the hon. Member does not often talk nonsense, but he is talking nonsense now. [HoN. MEMBERS: "Answer the question."] I am about to answer the question. The hon. Member knows perfectly well, as I demonstrated it to him in a chart during a debate late one night recently, that deliveries of fertiliser have been practically the same in every year, so much being ordered before 18th March and so much afterwards. Those who had their fertiliser before 18th March this year will get the increased subsidy next year provided that they are in the same position next year.