HC Deb 12 July 1976 vol 915 cc86-9W
Mr. Welsh

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have so far been received for grant aid under the Farm and Horticultural Development Scheme; and what percentage of farms in England and Wales this figure represents.

Mr. Strang

The total number of applications submitted in England and Wales under this scheme since its introduction on 1st January 1974, by calendar year, is as follows:

Submitted
1974 … 478
1975 … 763
1976 (to 31.5.76) … 1,156
Total … 2,397

This represents 2 per cent. of full-time farms.

Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list the classes of farm buildings that have been eligible for grant aid under schemes in force since 1945.

Mr. Strang

From 1946 to 1963 all classes of farm buildings, including farmhouses and cottages, if used in connection with livestock rearing activities in hill areas, were eligible for grant under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts 1946–1963. From 1957 grants were available generally under schemes made under various statutes for all types of farm buildings, except for farmhouses and cottages, provided the tests of the schemes concerned were met. Since 1st January 1974 grants have not been available for buildings used for poultry and egg production. In addition, between 1967 and September 1973 grants were also available for farmhouses and cottages where these were necessary as part of an approved farm amalgamation or boundary adjustments scheme under the Agriculture Acts 1967 and 1970.

As virtually all permanent farm buildings are, or have been, eligible for grant at some time or another since 1945 it has seemed preferable to specify the exceptions above rather than attempt to list all eligible buildings.

Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list all the classes of farming operations and improvements that have been eligible for grant aid under schemes in force since 1945.

Mr. Strang

So many diverse farming operations and improvements have been eligible for grant aid under schemes in force since 1945 that it would be impracticable to produce a comprehensive list. I have dealt with farm buildings in reply to another Question from

Operative Date
No. S.I. No. Title From To Remarks
1. Various … The Ploughing Grants Schemes and Regulations made annually under the Agriculture Development Act 1939 and Agriculture (Ploughing Grants) Act 1952 1939 1970 Replaced by No. 12.
2. Various … Agricultural Goods and Services (Marginal Production) Orders and amending Orders. 1943 1958
3. — Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) Act 1940. 1940 1970 Replaced by No. 12.
Agriculture (Miscellaneous War Provisions) (No. 2) Act 1940.
Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1941.
Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1944.
Agriculture Act 1947
Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1954.
Land Drainage Act 1961
4. — Hill Farming Act 1946 1946 1963 —
Livestock Rearing Act 1951
Hill Farming Act 1956
Agriculture Improvement Grants Act 1959.
Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1963.
5. — Agriculture Act 1957, S. 12 1957 1967 Replaced by No. 9.
6. — Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964, S. 3. 1964 1970 Replaced by No. 12.
7. — Agriculture Act 1967 Ss. 31 and 32 1966 1970 —
for fixed plant and machinery —
1967/733 … The Agriculture Act 1967 (Commencement No. 1) Order 1967. 1966 1970 —
for tractor and harvesters. —
1967/825 … Agriculture Investment (Variation of Rate of Grant) Order 1967. 1966 1973 —
for fixed equipment and land improvements.
1970/415 … Agriculture Investment (Variation of Rate of Grant) Order 1970. — — —
8. 1967/1221 … Hill Land Improvement Scheme 1967 1967 1970 Replaced by No. 12.
1970/531 … Hill Land Improvement (Amendment) Scheme 1970. — — —
9. — Agriculture Act 1967, S. 30 and summer Appropriation Act 1966. 1967 1970 Replaced by No. 12.
10. 1967/1329 … Agriculture and Horticulture Co-operation Scheme 1967. 1967 1971 —
11. 1970/1867 … The Farm Capital Grant (Repeal of Enactments) Order 1970. — — Repeals various Schemes.
1970/1758 … The Farm Capital Grant (Repeal of Enactments) (Saving) Order 1970.

the hon. Member today. Examples of other improvements and operations are:

  1. (a) land drainage and water supply
  2. (b) ploughing up and re-seeding of grassland
  3. (c) reclamation and clearance of land (including bracken eradication, etc.)
  4. (d) provision of services, e.g. gas, electricity, roads, cattle grids, etc.
  5. (e) provision of livestock handling facilities, e.g. pens and dips and fixed machinery and equipment, e.g. bulk milk tanks
  6. (f) provision of shelter belts, hedges or fencing.

The legislation authorising the payment of these grants is:

Operative Date
No. S.I. No. Title From To Remarks
12. 1970/1759 … The Farm Capital Grant Scheme 1970. 1971 1973 —
for standard rate
1971 1976
for hill land rates. —
1971/1077 … The Farm Capital Grant (Variation) Scheme 1971. — — Varies 1970 Scheme
1972/368 … The Farm Capital Grant (Variation) Scheme 1972.
1973/492 … The Farm Capital Grant (Variation) Scheme 1973.
13. 1971/415 … The Agriculture and Horticulture Co-operation Scheme 1971. 1971 — Replaces No. 10.
14. 1973/1965 … The Farm Capital Grant Scheme 1973. 1974 — Replaces No. 12 except for hill land items.
1976/547 … The Farm Capital Grant (Variation) Scheme 1976. June 1976 — Amends 1973 Scheme.
15. 1973/2205 … The Farm and Horticulture Development Regulations 1973. 1974 — —
1976/743 … The Farm and Horticulture Development (Amendment) Regulations 1976. — — Varies 1973 Regulation.

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