§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications have been received from, and granted to, crofters who have applied for grants and loans to improve or extend their croft houses; and what is the average time between notification that the grant is to be made and payment of the money.
§ Mr. RossFrom the start of the Crofters Budding Grants Scheme in 1949 to the end of September, 1968, 5,955 applications have been received for assistance by way of grant and/or loan towards improvements to croft houses. Of these 2,175 were subsequently withdrawn or found to be ineligible and 3,364 were426W approved. The duration of building work varies very much from case to case and the average time taken to make payment of the grant is not readily available. The practice is, however, to make payment without delay once the work is completed and in certain circumstances instalments of grant are paid as the work proceeds.