asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will provide substantial subsidies for fertilisers for all inhabited islands.

A subsidy is already payable on phosphatic fertilisers in order to reduce the price to farmers and I see no prospect of providing additional finance for this purpose. All the islands off the west coast are, of course, designated severely handicapped areas under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and farmers there are accordingly eligible for the special assistance given under that scheme.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if any investigation has been carried out in regard to this matter?

No. As I indicated in my reply, it is not proposed to extend the scheme of subsidising fertilisers at the present time.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary accept there are very special circumstances in the case of these islands and they should be entitled to special help by way of grant or subsidy to assist them in having fertilisers provided on the islands?

To extend the scheme would require EEC clearance. It is rather doubtful if that would be forthcoming because the scheme is peculiar to this country and it does not meet with the approval of our EEC partners.