§ 64. Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Government have completed their consideration of long-term proposals for making better use of marginal land; and whether he will make a statement on the subject.
Mr. T. WilliamsYes. The Government recognise that, in addition to hill land covered by the Hill Farming Act, 1946, there is in the United Kingdom a considerable area of so-called marginal land in upland areas, suited primarily for the rearing of cattle and sheep, which with comprehensive and long-term improvements, similar to those which can be effected under the Hill Farming Act, would be capable of rearing a considerably increased number of stock to match the increasing fattening potentialities of the lowland grasslands and so increase100W the output of high-quality meat from our own land.
The Government have therefore decided to seek an early opportunity of inviting Parliament to pass legislation to provide for the payment of grants at the rate of 50 per cent. towards the cost of voluntary schemes, similar to those under the Hill Farming Act, submitted over a five year period for the improvement of stock-rearing land in upland areas. It is proposed to make available some £10 million for this purpose, and I would emphasise that the approval of schemes will need to be on a selective basis to ensure that the available funds are concentrated on the land which will yield the highest returns.
It is also proposed to extend for a further five years the similar facilities available for improvement schemes for hill farming land and to make a further £5 million available for grant for these schemes.
Also in view of the importance of maintaining and increasing the sheep and cattle population on the uplands, it is proposed to extend for a further five years, until 1956, the provisions of the Hill Farming Act, 1946, for payments of subsidy for hill sheep and hill cattle.