Hill Farming (Hansard, 22 October 1975)

§ 5. Mr. MacCormick
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the difficulties currently facing hill farming in Scotland.

§ Mr. Hugh D. Brown
Returns from lamb sales and the early calf sales show a marked improvement on last year. I hope that the assurances we have given to beef producers about the level of their returns next year will have a beneficial effect on hill farmers' receipts from the sales that have still to take place.
We shall be reviewing the position shortly when we have more information about receipts and costs.

§ Mr. MacCormick
Does not the Minister appreciate that the figure for current calf sales in the hill farming areas compared with the 1973 figure is £3 per hundredweight lower? Bearing in mind the tremendous rise in costs over that period in all kinds of agricultural expenditure, does not the Minister agree that the least he can do is to arrange for earlier payment of the hill cow subsidy and the retention of the £10 calf supplement?

§ Mr. Brown
The hon. Gentleman has asked about three questions in that one supplementary question.

§ Mr. MacCormick
Answer one of them.

§ Mr. Brown
I shall answer them all, if the hon. Gentleman will give me peace. Yes, we are well aware that, although, as I said, the prices have increased compared with last year, they are still not up to the 1973 figures. Equally, all—including the agricultural community—should be aware that our attempts to control rising inflation can make a significant contribution to maintaining cost levels, and cost levels are as important as the price which is received at the end of the day.