55. Commander Maitlandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to issue details at the earliest possible date of the proposed scheme to provide grants for the improvement of old agricultural buildings and for the provision of new ones.
§ Mr, NugentThe final form of the proposals must await the introduction of the necessary legislation. In the meantime, fuller details of the scheme described in the recent White Paper are being worked out urgently. When further talks have been held with landowners and farmers we shall consider making a further statement.
56. Commander Maitlandasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the first result of his present proposals to introduce legislation to enable grants to be made for the provision or improvement of farm buildings will be to halt normal development, to disorganise country building firms and to create delay and congestion when the scheme finally becomes law; and what action he proposes to overcome this difficulty and to maintain a steady flow of work in agricultural building.
§ Mr. NugentMy right hon. Friend is well aware that pending legislation there must be some uncertainty in the minds of landowners and farmers who have plans for modernisation. We are considering whether there is anything we can do to ease the difficulties to which my hon. and gallant Friend has called attention.