§ Sir G. Sinclairasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the Horticulture Improvement Scheme.
§ Mr. PriorAssistance for horticultural improvements will be provided under a 7W revised Horticulture Improvement Scheme which we hope, subject to Parliamentary approval, to bring into operation on 1st January, 1971. The conditions of the new Scheme will be broadly parallel to those of the Farm Capital Grant Scheme, and are intended to simplify the procedures for claiming and paying grant; but no major alterations will be made in the basic qualifications necessary for a business to obtain assistance under the Scheme.
The list of facilities eligible for grant will be revised to take account of developments in horticultural practice. The basic rate of grant provided under the Horticulture Act 1960 will be unchanged at 33⅓ per cent.
As a consequence of the decision to discontinue investment grants and of the introduction of the new tax allowances for plant and machinery announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the rate of supplementary grant provided under the Agriculture Act 1967 will be reduced, giving a total effective rate of grant for items under the new Scheme of 35 per cent. of eligible expenditure.
The necessary Orders will shortly be laid before Parliament.