§ 59. Brigadier Petoasked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications have been submitted for grants for improvement schemes under the Hill Farming Act in Devonshire; what are the separate figures out of that total for Exmoor; and how many schemes have received his Department's approval for work to commence in respect of the above.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsThirty-one proposals for improvement schemes under the Hill Farming Act in Devonshire have been received, of which 22 relate to farms in the Exmoor district. Twelve of these proposals, including 11 in the Exmoor area, have been approved in principle, but no detailed schemes have so far been submited and no authority for work to begin has yet been given.
§ Brigadier PetoCan the Minister say why it is that no work has yet been approved or no permission given to start the work? Is it on account of the complexity of the schemes or the difficulties of making the application?
§ Mr. WilliamsI suppose many of these schemes are highly complicated, and in the first place some sort of scheme is sent in for examination. When the final report comes from the Ministry's county agricultural executive committees, then the final detailed scheme is submitted. As fast as the detailed schemes are submitted, approval is given by my Department.