HC Deb 25 November 1963 vol 685 cc8-10W
63. Mr. P. Browne

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement on the review of hill cow land.

Mr. Soames

In July, last year, I announced that there was to be a review of the eligibility of certain land for hill cow subsidy. This subsidy is paid only to farmers whose land satisfied two conditions:

First, that it is within an area consisting predominantly of mountains, hills or heath; and

Second, that it is suitable only for livestock rearing and not to any material extent for dairying, fattening or cash cropping.

The classification of farms that qualified was carried out in 1951 on a county basis. In the course of the last few years anomalies have come to light and J decided that the right thing to do was to have a country-wide survey, with the object of establishing consistent standards of assessment throughout the country. This review has now been completed. Two points have emerged.

First, it is now considered that some land undoubtedly lying within an area of mountains, hills or heath is, in fact, too good to meet the quality test. Secondly, some entire districts, according to the advice I have received, must now be considered to lie outside the true hill areas. In these districts there is, however, some land which is suitable only for livestock rearing. I think it would be wrong to disqualify all farms in these districts automatically. Past decisions to treat them as hill areas were fairly reached at the time and those farmers whose land is and has remained suitable only for livestock rearing have adjusted their scale of operations on the assumption that they would continue to draw this subsidy.

I therefore propose for these districts under the new Scheme I will be laying before the House that we will pay subsidy on land which qualifies at present and which after inspection is found to be materially unsuitable for any use other than livestock rearing. All the farms hitherto eligible in these areas will now be inspected individually to establish whether or not they will remain eligible.

Individual farmers will be informed as soon as possible of any change in the status of any of their land. Those who wish to appeal against the decision will have the opportunity of making representations to their Agricultural Executive Committee.

Arrangements are being made to pay subsidy, both this year and in 1964,to those fanners whose land is reclassified in order to provide time for any necessary adjustments in the stocking and cropping of their farms.