Lime

HC Deb 04 March 1968 vol 760 cc40-2W

Mr. Stodart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the lime used by Scottish farmers in 1967 was produced in Scotland, and how much in England; and what was the average amount of subsidy per ton paid to farmers for buying, transporting and spreading lime produced in Scotland and England, respectively.

Mr. Ross

The tonnages of lime produced in Scotland and in England and Wales, respectively, and delivered in Scotland during the calendar year 1967, and the average amounts of subsidy paid per ton of lime, derived from claims made by Scottish farmers under the lime subsidy scheme and paid in 1967 were as follows:—

Country of Origin	Deliveries (Product Tons)	Average Contribution per ton
		£	s.	d.
Scotland	398,657	1	5	10
England and Wales	321,810	1	16	4

Mr. Stodart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the potential output of lime from production sources in Scotland.

Mr. Ross

I am informed by the Scottish Lime and Limestone Association, as representing lime producers in Scotland, that the potential output of lime from production sources in Scotland is at least 600,000 tons per annum.

Mr. Stodart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the quantities, in tons, of lime delivered to farmers in Scotland in each individual month from March to August, inclusive, during 1967 and 1963, respectively; and if he will also state each figure as a percentage of the total for the appropriate year.

Mr. Ross

The tonnages of lime delivered to farmers in Scotland in each month from March to August, inclusive, during 1967 were as follows:—

1967	Tonnage delivered
March	186,845
April	149,881
May	62,965
June	56,149
July	34,591
August	27,788

The total tonnage of lime delivered in 1967 is not yet known.

Corresponding figures for 1963 are not available because statistics for that year relate to date of payment of subsidy.

Mr. Stodart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much the tonnage of lime used by farmers in Scotland has fallen since 1964; and to what he attributes this decline.

Mr. Ross

The tonnage of lime used by Scottish farmers in the year to 31st May 1964, represented by subsidy claims paid, was 1,127,000 tons. The corresponding figure for the year to 31st May 1967 was 890,000 tons. The decline is probably attributable in the main to a combination of weather and economic factors.