§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the adequacy of funds available to the agriculture industry to enable farmers to take advantage of the increased rate of capital grants.
§ Mr. Stodartasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how widespread he estimates that the response to the increased capital grants will be, in view of the shortage of cash and credit available to many farmers.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesNo precise estimate can be made of the funds available for investment in agriculture, but the higher rates of grant will reduce the cost of capital investment and I am confident that farmers and landowners will take full advantage of them. In the two years covered by the increase we expect more than 150,000 applications in the United Kingdom for grant, on projects attracting the higher rates.