HC Deb 18 February 1960 vol 617 cc1405-6
2. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total of grants made to small farmers in Staffordshire in each of the last five years; and for what purposes.

10. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total of grants made to small farmers in Lancashire in each of the last five years; and for what purposes.

22. Mr. Slater

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total number of grants made to small farmers in Durham in each of the last five years; and how such grants compare in ratio for the rest of the country.

Mr. Godber

Except under the Small Farmer Schemes no distinction is made between small farmers and other farmers for the purposes of paying grants and subsidies. I regret therefore that the full information asked for is not available.

The totals of applications received so far under the Small Farmer Schemes, which came into operation only last April, are 458 for Staffordshire, 1,081 for Lancashire, and 448 for Durham, compared with a total of 27,653 for England and Wales. Grants so far paid under the two schemes are £5,745 for Staffordshire, £15,596 for Lancashire and £12,925 for Durham compared with £700,786 for England and Wales.