§ Mr. Mackieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to state the profit or loss results of the farming activities of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland on the holdings of Craignell, Roundfell, and Kitterick, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, for the years 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1955, respectively.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe financial results of the Department's farming activities on the holdings of Craignell, Roundfell, and Kitterick during each of the five years 1951 to 1955 were as follows:
£ 1950–51, Profit 520 1951–52, Profit 596 1952–53, Profit 644 1953–54, Profit 1,253 1954–55, Loss 161 These figures allow for interest on capital, but not for administration. The latter may be roughly estimated at £150 per annum.
The explanation for the relatively high profit in 1953–54 is that regular sheep stocks, sold off because of resumptions for planting, realised higher prices than the previous valuation figures: the consequent reduction in turn-over led to the unfavourable result of the following year.