§ 19. Mr. James Davidsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that forestry grants are not paid for planting trees on land that has previously been improved for agricultural purposes with the aid of grants made by his Department.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Mackie)We do not propose to interfere with existing procedures. Payment of agricultural grants does not automatically rule out a proper, subsequent change to another form of land use for which a different form of grant can be paid.
§ Mr. DavidsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there have been cases where trees have been planted on arable land previously eligible for grant under the M.A.P. scheme? In one case, for instance, on the hillside above grant was being collected for land reclamation while below it arable land was being planted with trees.
§ Mr. MackieThere will be such cases. I explained in my original Answer that grant paid in respect of land used for agriculture does not automatically rule it out from another use later on. It is some time now since the M.A.P. scheme stopped.