§ Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the lambing percentage among sheep eligible for the hill sheep subsidy;
(2) what variation there is in lambing percentages in counties in England and Wales where sheep are eligible for hill sheep subsidy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartInformation about lambing rates among hill sheep eligible for subsidy could not be made available either nationally or by counties without a disproportionate amount of time and expense.
Because of the widely differing conditions existing in the hills, notably altitude and weather, lambing rates vary enormously. In sheltered areas the lambing rate can be well over 100 per cent., whereas in those which are exposed a rate as low as 60 per cent. is not uncommon.