41. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider making grants in respect of the manual work done by an applicant in connection with schemes under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts as well as land drainage and water supply schemes.
§ Sir T. DugdaleThe governing statutes allow me to pay grant only towards the expenditure actually incurred by the persons carrying out the improvement. I therefore have no authority to take the personal labour of an applicant into account.
Mr. WatkinsI quite understand what the situation is, but is the Minister not prepared to bring in amending legislation with regard to this matter, because it is of great concern to the hill farmers in remote parts of Wales, who cannot get any labour at all?
§ Sir T. DugdaleNo, Sir. I have given careful consideration to the whole problem. The grants are designed to help the farmer over the obstacle of the initial outlay of cash, and the farmer who does the work himself is not faced with that difficulty.