§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will provide a breakdown of expenditure under the farm and conservation grant scheme in cash and real terms, for each financial year since the inception of the scheme in 1989.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe breakdown requested is shown in the table.
Grant paid under the F&CGS 1989–93 in England and Wales Financial year Cash £'000s (Real Terms) £'000s1 1989–90 6,663 6,663 1990–91 26,732 24,385 1991–92 35,713 31,089 1992–93 32,618 27,535 1 Calculated using the Retail Price Index taking 1989–90 as the base year.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what purpose the farm and conservation grant scheme was established.
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§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe farm and conservation grant scheme is designed to help farmers maintain efficient farming systems while also meeting the often heavy cost of combating pollution and conserving the countryside and its wildlife. The scheme focuses on those investments which cut costs by updating existing resources and on those which help to achieve good countryside management. A special priority of the scheme is to help farmers install and improve waste handling facilities in order to meet their obligations to minimise pollution risks.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reasons account for the decision to allow farmers under 40 years of age to qualify for an additional allowance under the farm and conservation grant scheme; and what is the amount of the additional allowance.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe extra grant for young farmers—those under 40—implements a provision of EC regulation 2328/91 on agricultural structures. An additional 25 per cent. of the normal rates of grant is payable to young farmers on first improvement plans under the farm and conservation grant scheme.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minster of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if access to the farm and conservation grant is conditional on the applicant fulfilling any residential qualifications.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardSo that grant is paid only to viable businesses, the farm and conservation grant scheme requires that a farm business for which grant is sought must have been operational for at least a year. In addition, farmers situated in less-favoured areas are eligible for grant aid on the regeneration of grassland using lime and/or fertiliser and for enhanced rates of grant for some other investments. Otherwise, there are no conditions relating to residence.
§ Dr. StrangTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the farm and conservation grant for repairs and reinstatement of farm buildings encompasses farm houses and outbuildings which have been unoccupied for a six-month or longer period, but which are to be brought back into agricultural use.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardIt is a condition of the grants available under the farm and conservation grant scheme for the repair or refurbishment of traditional farm buildings that the building for which grant is sought must be in current agricultural use and have been in use during the 12 months prior to the application being received. However, no grant aid is available for the restoration of dwellings on farms.