§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is the case that, if a National Park Authority made a grant to a farmer to enable him to improve the siting or design of a new farm building in a national park, the grant payable to the farmer from the Ministry of Agriculture would be reduced as a result of the National Park Authority's payment, and whether they think that this is in the best interests of either the national parks or those who farm in them.
Earl FerrersUnder the present capital grant schemes grant may be paid on all of the capital expenditure which is incurred for an eligible agricultural purpose, including, for example, expenditure to improve the siting and design of a new farm building in order to take account of conservation considerations. If a National Park Authority offers a contribution towards such expenditure it is open to a farmer to choose either to claim grant under the capital grant scheme on the total cost of the project or, alternatively, to take the grant offered by the National Park Authority on the conservation element of the project together with grant under the capital grant scheme on the balance of the expenditure. This arrangement is necessary to avoid duplicating the use of different public funds.
House adjourned at eighteen minutes past four o'clock.