§ Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much lime has been applied under the Agricultural Lime Schemes 1964 to 1965 to the most recent date for which information is available, the figures so far as possible being given for each yearly period; how much of this lime is produced in Scotland, England and Ireland, respectively; and how much subsidy has been paid in respect of each of these sources.
§ Mr. RossSubsidy was paid on 6,467,000 tons of lime delivered in the United Kingdom during the period 1st August, 1964 to 14th August, 1965 when the 1964 Scheme was in operation, and on 1,600,000 tons of lime delivered during the period 15th August, 1965 (when the 1965 Scheme came into operation) to 31st March, 1966.
The remainder of the information is not readily available in the form requested; but I shall send to the hon. Member as soon as possible such figures as can be abstracted.
§ Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual consumption of agricultural lime in Scotland for each of the last three years for which records are available.
§ Mr. RossThe consumption of agricultural lime in Scotland, derived from claims by Scottish farmers under the lime subsidy scheme, was as follows:
Claims paid during period Thousand tons 1st April, 1963–31st March, 1964 1,007 1st April, 1964–31st March, 1965 1,080 1st April, 1965–31st March, 1966 935 The average time between the delivery of lime and payments of subsidy is about two months.