§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what considerations led him to decide to make no increase in allowances for hill cows and only 50p for hill ewes, rather than £4.93 for hill cows and £1.49 for hill ewes; what is the total amount of support involved in his decision; and what would be the amount of total support from the higher figures shown.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownA review of the economic situation in the hill farming sector carried out by the agriculture Departments at the end of 1978 indicated that increased returns from sales of calves would lead to a substantial improvement in the income of hill cattle farms in less-favoured areas in the United Kingdom in 1978–79. The review revealed a less satisfactory position in the case of farmers mainly dependent on the income from the sale of lambs from hardy breeds on the218W poorer hill areas; my right hon. Friends decided therefore to provide additional assistance in the form of a 50p increase in the higher rate of hill sheep subsidy in 1979.
The increase will cost about £1.1 million in Scotland, raising the total of compensatory allowances to just under £24 million this year.
The cost for increases of £4.93 on hill cows and £1.49 on all ewes eligible for hill livestock compensatory allowances in Scotland would be approximately £6.5 million.
§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the basis of the 50p increase in the hill livestock compensatory allowances; on what calculations this figure was arrived at; and if he will give figures to show the costs involved in keeping a suckler cow which produces a calf annually on a Scottish hill farm.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) about the increase in hill livestock compensatory allowances. There are wide variations in farming conditions and systems of management on Scottish hill farms which make it impossible to give a representative figure for the costs of keeping a suckler cow.