§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what finance has been allocated to farmers from European Economic Community resources to promote diversification from farming to tourism and other industries; and when these funds will be available for payment.
§ Mr. Jopling[pursuant to his reply, 25 March 1985, c. 3]: The recently agreed EC regulation for improving the efficiency of agricultural structures includes provisions which permit member states to provide aid for investments under approved improvement plans on farms in designated less favoured areas for the development of tourism or craft 325W industries. Such aid would be reimbursed partially from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund but no estimates are available of the cost of these specific measures in the Community.
As I have previously announced, it is my intention to implement these provisions when I introduce new grant arrangements later this year.
£'000 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Lichfield District Council n/a 63 46 49 111 138 Cannock Chase District Council 52 77 98 147 166 195 Stafford Borough Council 44 31 49 122 98 104