HC Deb 18 November 1968 vol 773 c232W
Mr. Monro

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of hill ewes on hill farms in Dumfriesshire during each of the last 10 years; and what is his estimate for 1968 and 1969.

Mr. William Ross

The numbers of hill ewes in Dumfriesshire on which subsidy was paid in each of the years 1959 to 1967 are set out in the table below. A figure is not provided for 1958 because hill sheep subsidy was not paid for that year.

Provided no exceptional circumstances arise which affect flock numbers, such as extremely severe weather conditions, I see no reason to expect any significant variation in 1968 or 1969.

Year Number of ewes ('000)
1959 168
1960 168
1961 168
1962 170
1963 171
1964 170
1965 171
1966 172
1967 170