HC Deb 18 June 1959 vol 607 cc79-81W
Mr. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount of grants and subsidies paid to Scottish agriculture in each of the years from 1955 to 1958, inclusive; what is

of coal which provides the same heat for a room in the average house.

Sir I. Horobin

Adequate supplies are already available, though not always in the types and qualities which some householders would prefer. Representative costs of providing continuous room heating when using solid smokeless fuels or coal in a simple improved open fire are shown below:

the estimated figure for 1959–60; and whether he will itemise such grants and subsidies for the year 1958–59.

Mr. Maclay

The grants and subsidies paid to Scottish agriculture for the financial years 1955–56 to 1957–58 were as follows:

1955–56 … … £27.4 million
1956–57 … … £34.8 million
1957–58 … … £42.5 million

The total for 1958–59 is expected to be about £39 million. It is not yet possible to make an estimate for 1959–60 or to itemise the grants and subsidies for 1958–59, but the items in 1957–58 were as follows:

£000
Total price subsidies … … (26,663)
Fatstock … … 9,522
Cereals … … 5,802
Potatoes … … 1,900
Milk … … 4,894
Eggs … … 4,100
Wool … … 445

£000
Total production grants (14,913)
Hill Cattle 1,497
Calf Rearing 2,305
Attested Herds 1,203
Marginal Production 1,272
Ploughing-up 2,445
Fertilisers 3,733
Lime 2,408
Others 50
Total improvement grants (969)
Livestock Rearing and Hill Farming Acts 515
Farm Improvement Scheme 7
Farm Water Supplies 139
Land Drainage 195
Silos 86
Others 27