§ Mr. Mackintoshasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the £10 an acre ploughing-up grant for farmers who have lost their stock in the foot-and-mouth epidemic is available only before ploughing is commenced; whether farmers are entitled to plough now and claim later; and whether farmers have been informed as to how and when to make their claims.
§ Mr. Peart:I shall very shortly be laying before Parliament a draft Order to make provision for this special £10 per acre grant for ploughing up grassland. Meanwhile I have written to all farmers who have had livestock slaughtered because of the epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease, explaining the details of the proposals, and where application forms may be obtained. Eligible farmer: will not be required to obtain prior 589W approval before operations are begun. Subject to the approval of Parliament, grant will be payable after ploughing and completing a further operation: the ploughing itself must have been done since the date on which the farmer's animals had been slaughtered and by 31st May, 1968, and the claim for grant must be received by 31st March, 1968, or by the last day of the month following that in which ploughing is completed, whichever is the later.