§ Mr. Keyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what grants are available under the agriculture improvement scheme for environmentally positive schemes including the planting of trees and hedges and the building of traditional walls, banks and dykes; if he will quantify such grants; if he will state the value of such grants disbursed since they were introduced; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JoplingGrants have been available since 1 October 1985 under the agricultural investment scheme for environmentally beneficial investments as follows:
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Rate of grant (per cent.) Description Basic LFA Bracken control (other than soil cultivation) 15 30 Dykes—using materials traditional in the locality 30 60 Heather burning—or regeneration by cutting 15 30 Hedges 30 60 Manure stores for poultry (not integral with poultry house) 15 30 Shelter belts (with 50 per cent. or more of broadleaved trees) 30 60 Walls—using materials traditional in the locality 30 60 Waste disposal (agricultural effluents and waste) 30 60 I regret that no information is available on the grants paid so far on these investments.