§ 58. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the rate of the new acreage grant payable under the farm amalgamation scheme.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellIt is intended subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Statutory Instrument that, where an approved amalgamation absorbs an uncommercial unit, the amalgamator would receive an acreage payment of £12.50 per extra acre, up to a maximum of 100 acres. Payment would normally be calculated on the difference between the area of the amalgamated unit and that of the largest single unit included in the amalgamation. Although the acreage payment would replace the special grants for remodelling works, amalgamators will be able to get the standard rates of grant under the Farm Capital Grant Scheme for farm buildings and other items covered by that scheme. As announced last November, amalgamators who apply under the present scheme may, subject to certain conditions, opt to have their application treated under that scheme or the new one. It is also intended that, because of the special provisions of crofting tenure in Scotland, the proposed new acreage payment for amalgamators in crofting cases should be payable to the crofter.