HC Deb 31 March 1965 vol 709 cc1644-5
22. Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions he has drawn from the review of the first three years' working of the Small Farmer Scheme carried out by his Department.

Mr. Peart

The great majority of small farmers who have received assistance under the Small Farmer Scheme have benefited. One conclusion which has emerged from my review of the Scheme is the importance of farm records as an aid to management, a factor which is to be reflected in the revised Scheme which I shall shortly be introducing.

Mr. Hill

I welcome the extension of the Scheme which the Minister has included in the Annual Review. Will not he agree that the whole purpose of the Scheme is to enable these small farmers to become as efficient as possible? If he accepts that, how does he expect those small farms which have taken advantage of the Scheme to find scope in subsequent years for extra efficiency so that they can bear their share—because it falls on them—of the £25 million which is annually deducted from the industry by way of increased efficiency? Does not this bear very hardly on the small farmer?

Mr. Peart

The hon. Member must bear in mind that small farmers have been in difficulties for many years and I am trying to look at the Scheme differently. Instead of concentrating on field husbandry operations, I have said that I want increased managerial efficiency. I have altered the acreage qualification from 100 to 125 acres. I have also altered the standard man days. This will bring in another 40,000 farmers who can qualify for grant aid this year of up to £1,000. I think this is sensible and it has been welcomed by the farming community.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Is the Minister aware that there are a number of fulltime farmers whose farms are too small to qualify for the Scheme? Many of them, in Scotland, are tenants of the Department of Agriculture. What is the right hon. Gentleman going to do for these full-time small farmers?

Mr. Peart

I agree that here there is a problem and that is why I am asking for a special survey with regard to co-operation. I think that the co-operation of the producers is necessary. I am not sure how they can specifically be helped, I admit that. I have done this for the small farmers to bring in another 40,000. I hope to review the situation and that I shall be able to make an announcement.