§ Mr. Tudor Watkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the tonnage of lime which has been supplied for farms in each of the counties of Wales for the last three years; and whether he is satisfied that sufficient is being used this year.
§ Mr. John MackieThe figures are as follows:
TONS OF LIME ON WHICH SUBSIDY HAS BEEN PAID County 1964 1965 1966 1967 Jan—sept. Anglesey 12,685 17,571 16,133 12,246 Brecon 14,505 16,269 12,724 6,961 Caernarvon 14,395 16,514 14,892 9,340 Cardigan 27,121 37,085 24,984 16,848 Carmarthen 44,920 51,422 37,082 23,303 Denbigh 26,036 25,281 22,343 11,780 Flint 11,782 10,735 8,338 4,498 Glamorgan 17,370 20,290 17,891 11,213 Merioneth 13,371 11,924 11,686 6,673 Monmouth 21,066 25,677 15,783 11,007 Montgomery 29,786 28,719 27,506 12,491 Pembroke 38,663 52,169 39,224 24,369 Radnor 24,007 23,472 15,212 7,610 Total for Wales 295,707 337,128 263,798 158,339 I am not satisfied that the amount of lime that is being used on the land in Wales this year is at a rate which is adequate to replace estimated lime losses. As 1966 was also a year of below average use, farmers generally would be well advised to examine whether their liming programmes are adequate to maintain the lime content of their land. The lime subsidy on average meets nearly half farmers' costs of liming and the advice of the N.A.A.S. is available to them on request.