HC Deb 15 November 1966 vol 736 cc89-90W
Mr. Mackintosh

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how long, on average, in the first nine months of 1966, has elapsed between the application for a farm improvement grant and the visit of the inspector to examine the project, and how long from then till the project is formally approved; and how much time elapses before the grant is made.

Mr. Ross

It is not possible without a disproportionate expenditure of time to produce average figures for all the individual cases involved. Sample checks over the period show that the time between an application and the visit of an inspector may be about four weeks and that it may take a further three-and-a-half weeks before a decision is announced. The time before grant is paid depends upon the time taken to complete the project. There may be five to six weeks between submission of the claim and payment of grant.

Mr. Mackintosh

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials are employed full-time or part-time on the inspection of projects for which farm improvement grants are requested.

Mr. Ross

None full-time. Inspections are made by the General Duties Inspectorate and Surveying Staffs of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, numbering in all 260, who carry out a wide variety of other duties.

Mr. Mackintosh

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm improvements grants have been applied for in the first nine months of 1966; how many have been approved; and how many grants, with their total value in £ sterling, have been made in these nine months.

Mr. Ross

In this period there have been 5,175 applications and 3,607 approvals; and 3,587 grants have been paid totalling £1,061,463.