HC Deb 25 November 1964 vol 702 cc1253-4
10. Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will amend the current practice of withholding grant from highly specialised farm buildings.

Mr. Peart

Grant is not withheld from specialised buildings provided that the tests laid down in the 1957 Act are satisfied.

Mr. Griffiths

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that in many cases the very small farmers whom he has been defining find it most difficult to compete in modern conditions unless they are provided with, or enabled to provide themselves with, the specialised buildings which allow them to compete? Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that in many cases small farmers who apply for a grant in aid for specialised buildings are refused it and told that they may have only general purpose buildings, which in many cases are not very much use to them?

Mr. Peart

I thought that the hon. Gentleman was concerned with highly specialised farm buildings. I am not aware that these are specialised buildings. However, if the hon. Gentleman has a case, and he may well have one in his constituency or be aware of one outside it, I shall be only too pleased to look at it.