Subsidies and Grants (Hansard, 5 December 1955)

§ 20. Mr. Edward Evans
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to make a statement on the subsidies of white fish.

Mr. Amory
Revised subsidy rates are set out in an Order which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I hope to lay before Parliament tomorrow.

Mr. Amory,
pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st November, 1955; Vol. 546, c. 817], supplied the following information:
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The following is the latest available estimate of the subsidies in implementation of the guarantees under the Agricul-

— Trading deficits Direct subsidy payments Total Approximate numbers of farmers to whom payments made

£'000 £'000 £'000

A. Administered by the Ministry of Food—

Cereals:—

Wheat 6,780 (b) 16,709 23,489 See (f) below.

Rye 97 (b) 206 303 Direct subsidy payments were made to 3,400 growers.

Barley 2,368 (c) 9,082 11,450 Direct subsidy payments were made to 73,000 growers.

Oats and mixed corn 1,660 — 1,660 Not available.

Eggs and egg products 3,495 19,301 22,796 Not available.

Fatstock (a) 24,600 (d) 56,600 81,200 Not available.

Milk (excluding school and welfare milk). (e) 4,081 (e) 32,865 (e) 36,946 195,000.

Potatoes 10,942 — 10,942 Not available.

54,023 134,763 188,786

B. Administered by the Agricultural Departments—

General fertilisers subsidy 12,454 Not available.

Lime subsidy 5,819 Not available.

Grants for ploughing-up grassland 4,963 110,000.

Field drainage and water supply grants 2,731 18,000 for field drainage; 8,000 for water supply.

Grants for improvement of livestock rearing land. 1,325 Not available.

Marginal production assistance grants 1,726 27,000.

Bonus payments under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme. 11,289 140,000.

Livestock: improvement of breeding 155 37,000 participated in milk recording scheme for which grant is paid to the Milk Marketing Boards. Numbers of beneficiaries not available for other grants (heavy horse stallions, bulls, boars and goats).

Calf subsidy 7,207 170,000.

Hill sheep and hill cattle 2,747 27,000 for hill cattle; 18,000 for hill cows; no payment of hill sheep subsidy in this year.

50,416

239,202

The figures in Section A are on a trading commitment basis whereas those in Section B are on a cash payments basis.

(a) This deficit arose from the Ministry of Food's trading in home produced livestock and meat during the last three months of control ending on 3rd July, 1954. This figure therefore contains an element of consumer subsidy which cannot be ascertained and also includes losses on purchases from Eire.

(b) These figures represent the sums accruing to farmers on their sales of wheat and rye delivered during the nine months commencing 1st July, 1954, which were eligible for deficiency payments under the Home Grown Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme, 1954.

(c) This figure presents the sum accruing to farmers on their acreages under barley for the 1954 crop which were eligible for deficiency payments under the Home Grown Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme, 1954.

(d) This figure represents the sum accruing to farmers in respect of sales certified under the Fat-stock Guarantee Scheme, 1954–55, during the nine months commencing on 1st July, 1954.

(e) These figures contain an element of consumer subsidy which cannot be ascertained.

(f) The number of growers receiving direct subsidy payments under the Home Grown Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme, 1954, for the four accounting periods covered by the above figures, were 14,900, 45,200, 45,100, and 21,300 respectively. Some growers will have received payment in more than one of the periods.

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ture Act, 1947, and of agricultural production grants for the year ended 31st March, 1955.

—	Trading deficits	Direct subsidy payments	Total	Approximate numbers of farmers to whom payments made
	£'000	£'000	£'000
A. Administered by the Ministry of Food—
Cereals:—
Wheat	6,780	(b) 16,709	23,489	See (f) below.
Rye	97	(b) 206	303	Direct subsidy payments were made to 3,400 growers.
Barley	2,368	(c) 9,082	11,450	Direct subsidy payments were made to 73,000 growers.
Oats and mixed corn	1,660	—	1,660	Not available.
Eggs and egg products	3,495	19,301	22,796	Not available.
Fatstock	(a) 24,600	(d) 56,600	81,200	Not available.
Milk (excluding school and welfare milk).	(e) 4,081	(e) 32,865	(e) 36,946	195,000.
Potatoes	10,942	—	10,942	Not available.
	54,023	134,763	188,786
B. Administered by the Agricultural Departments—
General fertilisers subsidy	12,454		Not available.
Lime subsidy	5,819		Not available.
Grants for ploughing-up grassland	4,963		110,000.
Field drainage and water supply grants	2,731		18,000 for field drainage; 8,000 for water supply.
Grants for improvement of livestock rearing land.	1,325		Not available.
Marginal production assistance grants	1,726		27,000.
Bonus payments under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme.	11,289		140,000.
Livestock: improvement of breeding	155		37,000 participated in milk recording scheme for which grant is paid to the Milk Marketing Boards. Numbers of beneficiaries not available for other grants (heavy horse stallions, bulls, boars and goats).
Calf subsidy	7,207		170,000.
Hill sheep and hill cattle	2,747		27,000 for hill cattle; 18,000 for hill cows; no payment of hill sheep subsidy in this year.
			50,416
			239,202
The figures in Section A are on a trading commitment basis whereas those in Section B are on a cash payments basis.
(a) This deficit arose from the Ministry of Food's trading in home produced livestock and meat during the last three months of control ending on 3rd July, 1954. This figure therefore contains an element of consumer subsidy which cannot be ascertained and also includes losses on purchases from Eire.
(b) These figures represent the sums accruing to farmers on their sales of wheat and rye delivered during the nine months commencing 1st July, 1954, which were eligible for deficiency payments under the Home Grown Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme, 1954.
(c) This figure presents the sum accruing to farmers on their acreages under barley for the 1954 crop which were eligible for deficiency payments under the Home Grown Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme, 1954.
(d) This figure represents the sum accruing to farmers in respect of sales certified under the Fat-stock Guarantee Scheme, 1954–55, during the nine months commencing on 1st July, 1954.
(e) These figures contain an element of consumer subsidy which cannot be ascertained.
(f) The number of growers receiving direct subsidy payments under the Home Grown Cereals Deficiency Payments Scheme, 1954, for the four accounting periods covered by the above figures, were 14,900, 45,200, 45,100, and 21,300 respectively. Some growers will have received payment in more than one of the periods.