§ 94. Sir D. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to give an estimate of the numbers of sheep lost through snow storms since 1940 in the counties north of Argyll and of the estimated number of lambs thrown as the result of these storms.
§ Mr. J. StuartI regret that this information is not available. It is not possible to isolate the effect of sheep losses due to snow storms from losses resulting from other weather effects and from other factors such as disease.
§ 95. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the evidence and information on which he estimates that very few deaths of sheep were attributable to recent snow storms; and what is the number of sheep that have died from cold and starvation this year.
§ Mr. J. StuartEstimates have been based on the results of sample investigations carried out by officers of my Department. These inquiries were representative of the worst hit districts in the north of Scotland. They showed that, in general, actual deaths are not likely to exceed the normal rate. It is not possible to isolate deaths from snow storms from deaths due to other weather effects and to other causes such as disease.