Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of farms and agricultural holdings in Scotland in the year 1966; and what estimate he has made of the percentage of those farms and holdings which will qualify for grants under the winter keep scheme.
§ Mr. RossThere are some 56,000 agricultural holdings in Scotland of which 26,000 are full-time farms and 18,000 are crofts and similar holdings. The crofts are excluded from the winter keep scheme, and I estimate that about one-third of the remaining 38,000 holdings are eligible for grants under the scheme.
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Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is his policy that all farms qualifying for grants under the winter keep scheme should automatically qualify, where appropriate, for the hill cattle subsidy.
§ Mr. RossYes. Farms which qualify for winter keep grants automatically qualify, in whole or in part, for hill cattle subsidy on eligible breeding cows.
Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for barley to qualify as a crop for grant under the winter keep scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossAny change in the basis of the winter keep scheme is a matter for consideration at the Annual Review. The purpose of the scheme is to encourage the growing of crops for the winter feeding of livestock, and although barley is used to some extent as a fodder crop on farms where it is grown, a considerable proportion of it is sold as a cash crop.
Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the altitude above sea level of the lowest lying farm in Scotland which qualified in the year 1966 for grant under the winter keep scheme.
§ Mr. RossNone. Altitude is only one of many factors taken into account when arriving at the classification of a unit for the purposes of the winter keep scheme, but an eligible unit must consist mainly of land which is suitable for use for the breeding, rearing and maintenance of sheep and cattle and not, to any material extent, for other purposes, e.g. cash-cropping.
Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the winter keep scheme; and what plans he has for amending it.
§ Mr. RossThe winter keep scheme, together with other grants and subsidies, will be considered at the Annual Review next month, and I cannot anticipate the outcome.