Livestock Improvement Schemes (Hansard, 27 January 1994)

§ Sir Hector Monro

The livestock improvement schemes are among the special forms of help available to crofters and others of similar status in the former crofting counties. The aim of the review was to assess the current arrangements and to consider alternative ways of providing assistance which might achieve better value for money. Careful consideration was given to the varying needs of the different crofting areas and to the particular requirements of cattle and sheep production.

In the light of the findings of the review, including the responses to the consultation paper issued last year, I have decided to retain the bull supply scheme for crofting townships. This is a unique scheme which provides quality pedigree bulls purchased by my Department on loan to crofting township committees which, in most cases, return the bulls to the Department's stud farm at Inverness for over-wintering. The review has identified that this scheme plays an important role, particularly in the remoter areas, in helping crofters to continue in cattle production which, in turn, has significant social and environmental benefits. I have also decided that my Department should continue to provide an artificial insemination service for crofters' cattle in Lewis and Harris, providing there continues to be sufficient demand and no other suitable alternative is available, since this is particularly appropriate to the circumstances there.

However, for sheep, instead of hiring out rams, my Department will in future purchase suitable rams of the Blackface and Cheviot breeds and sell them at a subsidised price to those crofting townships who wish to participate in the scheme. The intention is to provide rams of at least equivalent quality to the previous scheme.

For the forthcoming year, the cost to crofting townships of new rams delivered to the crofting areas will be £115 per ram. For this price, the crofting townships will be able to acquire a ram which, with suitable care, should provide useful service for up to three years. This is a much better bargain than the existing scheme under which crofting townships would pay over £175 for an equivalent period of time.

The new scheme will also ensure that assistance is provided in a more cost-effective way than at present since it will no longer be necessary for the Department to maintain a stock of rams. This should reduce the annual net deficit associated with the livestock schemes by approximately 25 per cent.

In conjunction with this new scheme, the existing Shetland sheep scheme will be continued but the new arrangements will supersede the Outer Isles ram lamb scheme which will be discontinued. The livestock purchase loan scheme, for which there is very limited take-up, will also be closed.

These new arrangements will ensure that an attractive package of assistance is available for crofting townships who wish to improve the quality of their livestock and thereby help to maintain the traditional crofting lifestyle and environment. They will be introduced in time for new applications for the 1994–95 season and the detailed administrative rules for the various schemes, together with the relevant charges, will be publicised to potential applicants in due course.

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