§ Mr. Championasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the considerations which caused him to decide not to pay any hill sheep subsidy for the period 1956–57.
§ Mr. GodberMy right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland took into account the estimated income and expenditure of hill sheep farmers in 1956 (based on returns from a sample of hill farms in England and Wales and Scotland) compared with that for 1955. This showed that the financial returns (excluding subsidy) to hill farmers as a whole in 1956 were at least as favourable as those for the previous year which included a subsidy of 5s. per ewe.