asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will withdraw the Department of Agriculture for Scot land tractor service from areas which are adequately catered for by private agricultural contractors, and thereby reduce the heavy loss to the taxpayer of maintaining this service.

This is the policy at present being pursued.

Can the hon. Gentleman give any date by which this service will be removed from those counties and areas which are quite capable of managing without it? For instance, in my own constituency the private contractors are sufficient in number and scale to operate there without the use of this service. Where it is not needed will the service be removed?

Whenever we are satisfied that the Department's machinery service can be suspended in any area it is immediately withdrawn, but we have to have regard to the needs of farmers who require it.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the high cost of this service will soon automatically cause its withdrawal?