HC Deb 28 January 1963 vol 670 cc134-5W
Mr. Temple

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount of the precepts levied by river boards in England and Wales, including the Lee Conservancy and Thames Conservancy Catchment Boards, in each of the years 1957–58 to 1961–62; and what increase or decrease per cent. these figures represented on the figures of the immediately preceding year.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

The following table shows the total of the precepts levied by river and catchment boards upon local authorities in England and Wales, year by year from 1957–58 to 1961–62, together with the percentage increases:

provement, liming, new houses and cottages, ploughing, rabbit clearance, rabbit scrub clearance, silos, small farmers, water supply, wood pigeon destruction, improvements to existing houses and cottages, improvements to fixed equipment and land, improvements to livestock, improvements to livestock rearing land and cattle tuberculosis.

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

Subject to final audit, the amounts paid to farmers and others through the Votes of my Ministry during the financial year ended on 31st

CERTAIN EXPENDITURE MET OUT OF CLASS VIII, VOTES 2 AND 3, 1961–62
Vote Subhead Title Amount
£
2 A.1 General Fertilisers Subsidy (United Kingdom) 32,969,881
A.2 Line Subsidy (United Kingdom) 8,796,883
A.3 Grants for Ploughing Up Grassland (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) 9,000,622
A.4 Field Drainage and Water Supply Grants (England and Wales):
£
(a) Field Drainage Grants 2,492,188
(b) Water Supply Grants 660,915
3,153,103
A.5 Grants for Improvements of Livestock Rearing Land (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) 1,026,125
A.7 Bonus Payments under the Tuberculosis (Attested Herds) Scheme 1958 (England and Wales) 6,598,743
A.8 Livestock: Grants for Improvement of Breeding (England and Wales) 6,901
A.9 Calf Subsidy (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) 14,470,593
A.10 Subsidy Payments in respect of Hill Sheep and Hill Cattle and Wales and Northern Ireland):
£
(a) Hill Sheep 400,384
(b) Hill Cattle 2,475,067
2,875,451
A.11 Silo Subsidies (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) 742,112
A.12 Grants for Farm Improvements and Amalgamations (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) 7,935,018
A.13 Grants to Rabbit Clearance Societies (England and Wales) (Grants relate to expenditure incurred in destroying rabbits, wood pigeons, coypu and harmful members of the crow family. A detailed breakdown is not available) 235,391
A.14 Grants to Small Farmers (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) 6,852,088
3 D.1 Slaughter of Diseased Animals: compensation etc. (England and Wales):
(a) Compensation to owners of animals slaughtered—
(ii) and (iii) Tuberculosis in cattle 913,390
(Receipts from the sale of carcases are credited to Appropriations-in-Aid of this Vote).
G.3 Other Grants (England and Wales):
(a) Grants in respect of expenditure for clearing rabbit- infested scrubland, etc. 110,308
K.1 Grants for Horticultural Improvements (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) 451,330
P.6 Miscellaneous Grants and Contributions (England and Wales):
(e) Bracken Eradication Grants 2,450
Notes
1. Grants for the amalgamation of uneconomic holdings are included in Subhead A.12. They amounted to approximately £300 in 1961–62.
2. Specific grants to landowners for afforestation are made by the Forestry Commission. Grants are also made under the Schemes for the Improvement of Livestock Rearing Land and Farm Improvements (Subheads A.5 and A.12) for planting shelter belts. The cost of the latter in 1961–62 is estimated at £6,469.
3. Grants for the provision of new farmhouses and cottages and for the improvement of existing ones are made under Schemes for the Improvement of Livestock Rearing Land (subhead A.5). The cost in 1961–62 is estimated at £272,193. A breakdown of grants between new and existing farmhouses and cottages is not available.