§ 3. Mr. Blakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the extent to which the grants made available to horticultural growers under the Agriculture and Horticulture Act, 1964, are being taken up.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Hoy)There has been an encouraging response from growers to these grants; the rate of applications under the Horticulture Improvement Scheme has nearly trebled since the new Scheme came into force on 1st July, 1964. As the statistics of the various grants are complex I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. BlakerIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the rate at which these applications are coming forward? Is not he aware that many growers are not convinced that the Government really intend that they should survive? Would not it give them more confidence and encourage them to take up these grants even faster if the Government were to give some practical proof that they wish them to prosper?
§ Mr. HoyI cannot quite understand part of that supplementary question. All I can say to the hon. Member is that there has been a considerable speeding up in the number of applications, as the figures will show. We would certainly want to do everything to encourage applications from those qualified to receive the grants in an honest endeavour to assist horticulture.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsIs it not a fact that many growers find it increasingly difficult to get the necessary credit for the other two-thirds because of the Government's severe credit restrictions at present? What is the hon. Gentleman doing to get this situation eased in order that growers should take full advantage of the grant?
§ Mr, HoyAll this was done before the credit squeeze. Applications are in and these grants are available. We have no signs at all that people are being restricted for that reason.
§ Following are the details:
| SUMMARY OF PROGRESS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO 31ST MARCH, 1965 | ||||
| Horticulture Improvement Scheme | ||||
| Horticultural Production Businesses | Horticultural Producers' Co-operative Marketing Businesses | Total | Monthly Average | |
| Number of applications received: | ||||
| (i) Under 1960 Scheme to 30th June, 1964 | 7,861 | 165 | 8,026 | 157 |
| (ii) Under 1964 Scheme from 1st July, 1964to 31st March, 1965 | 3,995 | 40 | 4,035 | 448 |
| (iii) Total | 11,856 | 205 | 12,061 | |
| Number of applications approved | 9,065 | 156 | 9,221 | |
| Estimated cost of approved proposals expected to qualify for one-third grant | £11.0million | £1.4million | £12.4million | — |
| Small Horticultural Production Business Scheme | ||||
| Number of applications received | 1,764 | |||
| Number of applications approved | 980 | |||
| Grant expected to be payable | £390,000 | |||
| Grant for orchard clearance under Section 3 of Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964 | ||||
| Number of applications received | 558 | |||
| Number of applications approved | 459 | |||
| Estimated cost of approved proposals expected to qualify for one-third grant | £105,000 | |||
| Grants for promoting growers' marketing co-operatives under Section 4 of the Horticulture Act 1960 | ||||
| Number of applications received | 76 | |||
| Number of applications approved | 75 | |||
| Grant payable | £120,000 | |||
| Grants towards cost of improvement or initial operation of growers' marketing co-operatives under Section 4 of the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964 | ||||
| Number of applications received | 8 | |||
| Number of applications approved | 8 | |||
| Grant payable | £33,000 |