§ Mr. James Davidsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the Government's proposals to guarantee bank loans to the agricultural industry.
§ Mr. PeartThe Annual Review White Paper for 1965 announced proposals to extend to bank loans for agricultural businesses the Exchequer support already available for such loans to horticultural businesses under Section 9 of the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964. This support is now available under the legislative cover of the Appropriation Act; continuing provision, covering both agriculture and horticulture, is now proposed in Clause 62 of the Agriculture Bill which was presented to Parliament on 27th April. Under the Bill the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be empowered to make grants, within prescribed limits, towards the cost of fulfilling guarantees on bank loans made to farmers, growers or their co-operatives.