§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the number and value of applications under the Farm Capital Grant Scheme in the last quarters of 1971 and 1972, respectively.
§ Mrs. FennerThe number of applications received in the United Kingdom under the farm capital grant schemes in the last quarters of 1971 and 1972 were 32,282 and 18,676 respectively. It is regretted that the value of these applications is not recorded.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current rate of applications under the Farm Capital Grant Scheme; and how this compares with previous years.
§ Mrs. FennerThe number of applications received in the United Kingdom under the Farm Capital Scheme in the three months December to February 1971–72 and 1972–73 were 55,306 and 25,666 respectively.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, at the current rate of applications and at the current average value of approvals, what will be the Exchequer saving as a result of the 10 per cent. cut in the Farm Capital Grant Scheme.
§ Mrs. FennerBy reducing the standard rate of grant by 10 percentage points it is estimated that a saving of approximately £15 million per annum will be achieved in the United Kingdom in a full year.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he expects will be the effect of the 10 per cent. cut on the number of applications for the Farm Capital Grant Scheme.
§ Mrs. FennerThe number of applications depends on several factors and it is not possible to make any precise statement of the separate effect of the change in the rate of grant for some items in the FCGS.