§ Mr. Tudor Watkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he now has had information as to the losses of sheep during the winter months of early 1963; what figures he has of such losses for the Counties of Brecon and Radnor; and what reply he has made to the representations made to him for some financial assistance towards such losses, as was done in 1947.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe additional loss of ewes attributable to the severe weather early in 1963 for England and Wales as a whole, including lowland sheep, is estimated at little more than 50,000 or ½ per cent. of the flock. The additional loss of lambs, including any arising from the death of ewes prior to lambing, was of the order of 450,000. Estimates cannot be made with any precision for individual counties, since no allowance can be made on a county basis for slaughterings or for drafting out of the county, and marketings of ewe lambs are not available by counties. These losses, although severe in some small districts, were in no way comparable to the national disaster of 1947, and my right hon. Friend would not feel justified in recommending the House to provide financial assistance towards meeting them.