VISCOUNT STONEHAVENasked Her Majesty's Government (1) whether the total number of 65.000 farmers assessed as being likely to be eligible for aid under 870WA the small farmers' scheme, own or occupy one holding each; (2) whether any of the 25,000 former recipients of A.P. grants who are expected to benefit under the new schemes own or occupy more than one holding; (3) whether they can give details of both these categories; and (4) whether an occupier who occupies more than one otherwise eligible holding, which has been regularly returned as an individual holding in the agricultural returns for at least five years, will qualify for aid.
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)The figure of 65,000 represents the number of farm businesses in the United Kingdom estimated to be eligible for the Small Farmer Scheme and therefore makes allowance for the fact that some farmers operate more than one holding as a single farm business. The figure of 25,000 quoted by the noble Lord represents the estimated number of former recipients of marginal production assistance who will not be eligible for the Small Farmer Scheme but who will be eligible to receive assistance until 30th June, 1962, under the Supplementary Scheme in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, or the revised Marginal Agricultural Production Scheme in Scotland. No precise information is available of the number of farmers eligible for any of the new schemes who occupy more than one holding. In answer to the last part of the noble Lord's question, eligibility under all the new schemes will be determined by reference to the size of the farm business as a whole. The question whether two or more holdings which are in the same occupation form a single farm business will have to be decided in each case on its merits.
House adjourned at thirteen minutes past seven o'clock.