§ Mr. Newensasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total sum of money paid out from Government funds for each of the past five years for which figures are available for the purpose of removng hedges on farms.
§ Mr. StrangGrant paid on the removal of hedges on farms in the last five financial years was as follows:
These figures include the grant paid on the removal of hedges where this operation formed an essential part of a field drainage scheme.
£'000 1970–71 95 1971–72 132 1972–73 237 1973–74 288 1974–75 144 Total 896 In addition grants were payable under the Hortculture Improvement Scheme for which details in the form requested are not avalable. On the basis of the value of approved proposals, it is estimated that about £11,000 was paid over the period 1970–71 to 1974–75.