§ 17. Mr. Deedesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about planting grants under the Forestry Dedication Scheme.
§ Mr. John HareYes, Sir. I am glad to say that the Forestry Commissioners, having reviewed the amount of the planting grant in accordance with the terms of the Dedication Scheme, have agreed that it should be increased from £17 to £20 per acre. The increased grant will take effect as from 1st October, 1958.
Similarly, the amount of the grant for planting under the Small Woods Scheme will be increased to £20, and under the Approved Woodland Scheme from £8 10s. to £10 per acre.
No change will be made in the amount of maintenance grant under the Dedication Scheme since, as announced in Parliament in July last, it is proposed, subject to the setting up of an effective woodland owners' association, to substitute for this grant a management grant at the rate of 18s. for the first hundred acres, 12s. for the next hundred acres and 7s. for the remainder on any dedicated estate. When this is done the grant for planting under the Approved Woodland Scheme will be raised to £20 per acre.
§ Mr. DeedesHas my right hon. Friend any estimate of the total cost of the new proposals?
§ Mr. HareThe estimated cost of the increase which I have just announced is about £100,000 in the next financial year.