§ 2.42 p.m.
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL ST. ALDWYN)My Lords, as your Lordships will know, the Agriculture (Calf Subsidies) Act, 1952, enables schemes to be made for the payment of subsidies on calves. The first scheme of this kind applied to calves born up to October 29, 1955, and the scheme now before your Lordships provides for the continuance of subsidies on calves born in the period October 30, 1955, to October 29, 1958: that is for another three years.
The rate of subsidy under the earlier scheme was £5 a head, but that scheme was altered in June, 1955, to raise the rate to £7 10s. for calves born on or after April 1, 1955. The rate of subsidy under the present scheme continues to be £7 10s. for heifer calves. For steer calves the rate is £7 10s. for those born before April 1, 1956. and £8 10s. for those born on or after that date. Your Lordships will remember that the higher rate for steer calves was part of this year's Annual Review award as announced in the White Paper, which we published in March. I do not think there can be any doubt that this subsidy is a valuable means of encouraging the rearing of store cattle to produce beef, and we are still in need of more home-produced beef. I therefore commend the Scheme to your Lordships and beg to move that it be approved.
§ Moved, That the Draft Calf Subsidies (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Scheme, 1956, reported from the Special Orders Committee on Wednesday last, be approved.—(Earl St. Aldwyn.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.