§ Mr. MacdonaldTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost to the Treasury of hiring out tups under the tup and bull scheme in the crofting counties; and what are the projected savings if the tups were instead to be sold to crofters.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe various livestock improvement schemes for crofters, including the ram supply scheme, cost approximately £800,000 in 1992–93 of which £300,000 was offset by charges and other income generated by the stud farms. The change from a ram supply to a ram purchase scheme should reduce the net annual deficit associated with the schemes by about £125,000.