§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what grants are available to farmers for the installation of electricity to farms.
§ Mr. HoyGrants towards the cost of providing electricity on farms are available under the Farm Improvement Scheme and, to farmers with approved comprehensive improvement schemes, under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts.
Grant is available under the Farm Improvement Scheme towards the cost of providing an electricity supply for agricultural purposes. Subject to satisfactory compliance with the statutory tests of the Agriculture Act, 1957, grants may be paid of one-third of the approved capital 144W cost to the farmer of connecting to the mains supply, and wiring farm buildings. In certain circumstances, for instance, where no mains supply is available and none is likely in the foreseeable future or where the cost of connecting to a mains supply is too high to meet the economic tests of the Scheme, grant may be paid towards the cost of an electricity generator.
The closing date for new applications for improvement schemes under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts was 5th November, 1963; but where approved schemes include the provision of an electricity supply, for domestic or agricultural purposes, the grant payable is one-half of the approved capital cost to the farmer.
At 30th September, 1964, a total of £2.08 million had been paid in grant in England and Wales on electricity works under the Farm Improvement Scheme and the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts.