asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider extending the lime subsidy to all farming areas in view of the present poor state of agricultural land in the rural areas and not limit this subsidy to the less favoured areas; and if he will make a statement.

Under the capital grants schemes, assistance is available both inside and outside the less favoured areas for liming which is part of an approved programme of grassland reseeding and regeneration. In addition, the agricultural development and advisory service stresses the need for regular liming as a cost-effective treatment which it is in farmers' own interest to undertake. We have no plans to introduce further assistance for liming.