§ Mr. Clive Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that the size of grants for the Farm Improvement Scheme has dropped considerably, compared to the equivalent period last year as a result of the exceptional cold weather, if he will give early consideration to making a special grant to those whose schemes have fallen behind schedule or incurred additional expenses.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsIn fact, grant payments under the Farm improvement Scheme for the three months December, 1962, to February, 1963, were slightly higher than in the corresponding period of 1961–62—£2,654,000 against £2,569,000. Under the terms of the Agriculture Act, 1957, which is the statutory basis for the Scheme, the rate of grant is fixed at one-third of the reasonable cost of approved work. If there is a good reason for an improvement having cost more than the figure approved, the higher cost may be considered for grant.