HC Deb 10 November 1981 vol 12 cc73-4W
Mr. Myles

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in tabular form in the Official Report the number of 250kg store suckled calves at average Scottish market prices to buy the following basic hill farming inputs for the years 1973, 1977 and 1981: cattleman's annual wage, 10 tonnes hill cow cobs, 10 tonnes 15–15–21 fertiliser, 10 tonnes hay delivered, 100 tonnes lime, delivered and spread, 1,000 gallons of tractor diesel fuel, Ford 4000 tractor or equivalent and interest on a £10,000 overdraft.

Mr. Younger

The following information is as close to that requested as can readily be produced.

Number of calves required in
1973 1977 1981
Cattleman's annual wage 15.5 21.1 19.3
10 tonnes cattle feed 5.4 6.3 5.0
10 tonnes 15–15–21 fertiliser (net of subsidy in 1973) 4.9 7.6 6.1
10 tomes hay producer's price 2.2 3.1 1.9
100 tonnes lime (net of subsidy in 1973) 2.5 5.3 4.6
1,000 gallons tractor diesel 1.3 2.5 3.1
Ford 4000 series tractor, manufacturer's recommended price 22.2 44.3 34.6
Interest on £10,000 overdraft 13.6 8–4 6.2
Note: The comparisons take no account of increases in headage payments and make no allowance for changes in productivity or the quality of inputs.

Mr. Myles

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in tabular form in the Official Report the numbers of 18 kg dressed carcase weight fat lambs at average producers' prices in Scotland including subsidy required to buy the following basic hill farming inputs for the years 1973, 1977 and 1981: a shepherd's annual wage, 10 tonnes hill ewe cobs, 10 tonnes 15–15–21 fertiliser, 10 tonnes hay delivered, 100 tonnes lime delivered and spread, 1,000 gallons tractor diesel fuel, Ford 4000 tractor or equivalent, interest on a £10,000 overdraft.

Mr. Younger

The following information is as close to that requested as can readily be produced for average prices including guarantee payments, but not including annual premiums.

Number of Lambs required in
1973 1977 1981
Shepherd's annual wage 108.4 126.6 118.5
10 tonnes ewe and lamb feed 44.7 48.6 31.4
10 tonnes 15–15–21 fertiliser (net of subsidy in 1973) 35.2 47.0 38.9
10 tonnes hay, producer's price 15.5 19.2 11.8
100 tonnes lime (net of subsidy in 1973) 17.4 33.0 29.4
1,000 gallons tractor diesel 9.3 15.7 19.7
Ford 4000 series tractor, manufacturer's recommended price 158.0 275.4 219.2
Interest on £10,000 overdraft 97.0 51.9 39.5
Note: The comparisons take no account of increases in headage payments and make no allowance for changes in productivity or the quality of inputs.