§ 51. Mr. Goochasked the Minister of Agriculture what he estimates will be the resultant loss or gain to the agricultural industry by the removal of the remaining feedingstuffs subsidies and the fertiliser subsidies, and taking into account the increased prices of livestock, the marginal production scheme, assistance to certain classes of purchasers of feedingstuffs and the fertiliser scheme for improving grass and marginal land.
Mr. T. WilliamsCosts to the Exchequer of subsidies on feedingstuffs and on fertilisers are estimated to have amounted in the year 1949–50 to £34 million and £15 million respectively. In 1950–51 and subsequent years there will be no cost to the Exchequer in respect of feedingstuffs, and from 1st July, 1951, there will be no trading loss on fertilisers. The increased costs to be borne by farmers as a result of the withdrawal of these subsidies will, however, depend
32Wwould also like to announce that the United Kingdom 1952–53 programme of milk for human consumption has been raised from 1,920 million to 1,965 million gallons.
Following is the statement:
upon the volume of their purchases of feedingstuffs and fertilisers and the course of future prices. The additional income they will receive as a result of the recent price review will depend upon the volume of their sales of livestock products in 1950–51 and of crops from the harvest of 1951, and upon the extent to which farmers take advantage, during the period for which they are available, of the various schemes for giving special assistance to particular groups of occupiers which I announced on 23rd March. I regret that I am unable to make forecasts of either the increased expenditure or increased receipts which will result from the various factors I have indicated.