§ 27. Mr. Palmerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will arrange that grants for electrification under the farm improvement scheme shall be given in cases where the farmer makes his financial contribution towards the capital cost of the electricity 910 service in quarterly instalments and not in one lump sum down.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. J. B. Godber)Arrangements already exist for the payment of grant in such cases where the farmer pays by a limited number of instalments. My right hon. Friend is considering whether arrangements can be made for payment of grant where the farmer arranges to pay on a fixed charge basis without time limit.
§ Mr. PalmerWhile thanking the Parliamentary Secretary for that answer, is he aware that the present system to a great extent cancels out much of the advantage which the farm improvements scheme was supposed to give to rural electrification?
§ Mr. GodberI realise that there are difficulties in some areas, but we should not exaggerate the matter. My right hon. Friend is looking into it. It is a very difficult problem, as I think the hon. Member knows.