Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 26th June, 1953
Hill Cattle Subsidy
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now give further information about the subsidy which is to be paid on hill cows in England and Wales in accordance with paragraph 13 of the recent White Paper on the Annual Review of Farm Prices, 1953.
After consulting the National Farmers' Union I propose to pay a subsidy of £10 a head on breeding cows and in-calf heifers in regular breeding herds kept on hill and upland farms in England and Wales. Any farm which would count as a hill or livestock rearing farm for the purposes of the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts will qualify, provided it carries a distinct herd kept for breeding. Cows kept solely for milk production will not be eligible, but herds kept for breeding store cattle for sale may qualify so long as all calves (male and female) are reared, even though small quantities of surplus milk may be sold in the summer time. In such cases, the subsidy would be reduced in proportion to the quantity of milk sold.I propose that the new subsidy should continue for the four years 1953–56. A
| Weekly Rate, July 1948 | Weekly Rate, May 1953 | |||||||
| Actual | Equivalent at July 1948 prices (on basis of Retail Prices Index) | |||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | |||
| 1. Single Person: | ||||||||
| (a) Without dependants | … | … | 26 | 0 | 32 | 6 | 25 | 1 |
| (b) With I child | … | … | 33 | 6 | 43 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| (c) With 3 children | … | … | 33 | 6 | 48 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| 2. Married Couple: | ||||||||
| (a) Without children | … | … | 42 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 41 | 8 |
| (b) With 1 child | … | … | 49 | 6 | 64 | 6 | 49 | 9 |
| (c) With 3 children | … | … | 49 | 6 | 69 | 6 | 53 | 7 |
| 3. Married woman without dependants: | ||||||||
| (a) Sickness benefit | … | … | 16 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| (b) Unemployment benefit | … | 20 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
National Insurance
Benefits (Purchasing Power)
asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he will publish a table in HANSARD showing the level of purchasing power of the various benefits under the National Insurance Act at the latest convenient stated date compared with those in operation in July, 1948.
The following table shows the standard weekly rates of the main National Insurance benefits for different kinds of family at July, 1948, and May, 1953, and the equivalents at July, 1948, prices of the May, 1953, rates, calculated on the basis of the official Index of Retail Prices:Treorchy exchanges, that are in receipt of contributory pensions; and the number of pensionable age that remain in employment.
I regret that this information is not available.
National Finance
Cattle Medicines (Tax)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will abolish Purchase Tax on cattle medicines which are essential to the maintenance of the health of the animal population in this country.
No. Animal medicines are dealt with broadly on the same lines as human medicines, with the result that a large number are exempt.
Foot-And-Mouth Disease Payments (Tax)
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he will ensure that compensation for all stock slaughtered by reason of foot-and-mouth disease is not made subject to tax, as this in fact is not income but capital needed for the purchase of more cattle to replace those compulsorily destroyed.
I am afraid that for the reasons I gave in Committee on the Finance Bill, my right hon. Friend is unable to go beyond the proposals in Clause 21 of the Bill.
Companies And Businesses
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to state the number of companies who have formally ceased and recommenced business during the 1952–53 financial year.
I regret this information is not available.
Social Survey
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how much of the total vote provision for the Social Survey for 1953–54 is for information work and how much for all other work.
None is for information work: the whole is for other work.
Central Land Board
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the Central Land Board are sending out notices to property owners informing them that there is now no development charge payable on their land in spite of the fact that this information was made known to them last November; and if he will take steps to see that the Central Land Board is brought to an end.
Yes. The Central Land Board are obliged to issue formal determinations of development charge in respect of development which was started before 18th November, 1952. Where the development concerned does not increase the value of the land the Board must notify the applicant that no development charge is payable. Apart from these formal determinations the Board have sent notices to members of the public who have written asking what their position is under the Act which received the Royal Assent on 20th May this year. With regard to the second part of the Question, the Board has functions in relation to claims for loss of development value and the Board's future can only be considered in the light of the further legislation about claims which is to be introduced next session.