§ 3.11 p.m.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications for grants under the Horticulture Act have so far been approved, and what will be the total contribution from Her Majesty's Treasury towards these approved schemes.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)My Lords, by October 31 approval had been given to 667 applications, involving an estimated Exchequer liability of £ 369,486.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, does not the noble Earl regard this as an ex-Lamely small number, and an extremely 478 small amount, compared with the 35,000 horticulturists who are eligible to apply and the £ 8 million which is available for distribution? How does he account for this slow rate of application? Does he not regard it as an indication of the desperate state of horticulture, in that the growers cannot find the other two-thirds of the capital expenditure?
EARL WALDEGRAVENo, my Lords, I do not regard it as any such thing. This scheme has been in operation for only seven months, and one would not expect people to have plans worked out ready for submission to the authorities in order that they may attract grant, all in the first minute when the scheme is produced. This scheme has already attracted grants of one-third of £ 1 million and the total value of applications on which grant 'has been approved is over £ 1 In the first seven months of an entirely new and novel scheme I think the progress is satisfactory.