§ LORD NUGENT OF GUILDFORDasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether farmers who have submitted applications under the existing Farm 260WA Structure Schemes would be able to take advantage of the improved incentives referred to in the debate on the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
§ LORD DENHAMYes. Subject to enactment of the Bill and Parliamentary approval of the subsequent statutory instruments, it is intended that amalgamators who have received no grant payment, loan or guarantee and had not completed their land transactions more than one year before November 27,1971, will have the option of having their application treated either under the present Scheme or under the new one. Amalgamators who apply between November 27,1971, and the coming into operation of the new schemes will have a similar option, but all applications must as at present be made within one year of completing the land transactions.
Payments to outgoers will continue at the present rate until the new scheme comes into force but, where the new Scheme provides increased rates, the payments will then be made up to the new levels for those outgoers who have not given up occupation of their units before November 27,1971.
House adjourned at eighteen minutes before nine o'clock.