§ 78 and 79. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many grants and of what total amount, have been made in Wales, in respect of improvements under the Agriculture Act, 1957; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many applications for improvement grants under the Agriculture Act, 1957, have been received from Wales and from the County of Glamorgan, respectively; what proportion has been granted in each case; and how these proportions compare with the proportion granted in the rest of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. GodberBy the end of October, no grant had yet been paid. Out of 2,131 applications received in Wales and Monmouthshire 70 had been approved at an estimated cost of £41,701; 280 more were74W ready for approval on production of satisfactory plans, specifications and tenders, and 219 had been rejected or withdrawn. About half of the farms concerned had been inspected.
In the County of Glamorgan by the same date, 182 applications had been received. Of these 5 had been approved, that is 2.7 per cent. as compared with 3.3 per cent. in Wales and Monmouth and 8.3 per cent. in the rest of the United Kingdom.
The response to the Farm Improvement Scheme in Wales and Monmouthshire has been great having regard to the fact that most of the area of the Principality was previously eligible for improvement schemes under the Hill Farming and Livestock Rearing Acts, of which good use has been made. The administration of these schemes is a heavy task and the Ministry's technical staff have been working under extreme pressure in recent months.