§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD CRAIGTON)My Lords, arising out of the previous debate, my noble friend asked a question about the Farm Improvements Scheme, which is not before your Lordships to-day, but perhaps your Lordships will permit me to answer my noble friend. He was referring to estate timber. Under the Farm Improvements Scheme we allow 85 per cent. of the current market price; we have to exclude an allowance of profit in the price, because the market price includes the profit element. This is not obtainable if you are using your own timber. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Silo Subsidies (Scotland) Scheme, 1962, be approved.—(Lord Craigton.)
VISCOUNT STONEHAVENMy Lords, I must not go into the Farm Improvement Scheme, but this question 1022 would arise on the Silo Scheme, where I imagine the same conditions would apply. May I take it that I am correct in thinking that if you utilised home grown timber in this scheme you would come under a different heading than would apply in the case of the Farm Improvement Scheme, and you would be allowed the full value of your timber? May I also ask the noble Lord whether he is satisfied that in using home-grown timber, which has to be fabricated in an estate mill, which is not normally the most efficient piece of equipment, 15 per cent. is a fair assessment of profit? I should be delighted to make 5 per cent.
§ LORD CRAIGTONI am grateful to the noble Lord. I think the answer to his first question is Yes, and with regard to the second point I should be very glad to look into this for him.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.