§ 76. Mr. Stodartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the annual saving in lime subsidy payable on the basis that farmers in Scotland took up 600,000 tons of lime produced in Scotland, instead of 400,000 tons.
§ Mr. RossIt is not possible to make an estimate in the absence of adequate information about the cost of producing such a substantial increase in Scottish lime output.
§ 77. Mr. Stodartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the subsidy on lime delivered into Scotland from England is 10s. 6d. per ton more than on lime which is produced in Scotland, having regard to the fact that Scottish lime producers are working at only two-thirds of their potential output.
§ Mr. RossThe higher subsidy payable in respect of lime delivered into Scotland from England is related to the cost of transporting the material. Scotland is not self-sufficient in lime production: rather more than one-half of the requirements of Scottish farmers is met from Scottish production, and the balance is supplied from other parts of the United Kingdom.