56. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the gross value per annum averaged over a 50-year period at constant prices of the output obtainable from an acre of average hill land in the South of Scotland, the West of Scotland and the North-East of Scotland, respectively, when growing trees of the most appropriate species and a similar acre of land devoted to hill sheep farming.
§ Mr. RossThe current value of output per acre on hill sheep farms is estimated at £2.7 in the East College area, £1.9 in the West College area and £0.5 in 325W the North College area. The corresponding figures for upland farms are £6.3, £8.6 and £4.5. The figures for forestry are £19 in South Scotland, £16 in West Scotland and £10 in North-East Scotland. However, these output figures give no indication of comparative profitability or return on capital. The level of investment is much higher in forestry and the bulk of the return on this investment does not accrue until near the end of a very long period.
57. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual cost to the Exchequer in the form of direct grants and subsidies averaged over a 50-year period at constant prices of an average acre of hill land in Scotland when devoted to forestry under dedication and hill sheep farming, respectively.
§ Mr. RossFor 1967–68, direct grants and subsidies are estimated at 10s. per acre for hill sheep farms in Scotland and £1 16s. per acre for Upland farms. The average annual value over a period of 50 years of the present rate of grant for dedicated forestry land is approximately £1 10s. per acre.