§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he has taken to publicise the availability of grants under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme;
(2) if he will take further steps to publicise the availability of grants under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme.
§ Mr. StrangThe Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme received considerable publicity when it was announced at the end of 1973 and the rates and conditions of grant are also described in the booklet "At the Farmers Service". This booklet is reissued annually and is obtainable free of charge from the Ministry's divisional offices. Copies are also available in the Library of the House.
In his statement on 8th March my right hon. Friend indicated his intention, subject to the approval of the House, not only to improve the rates of grant under this Scheme but to simplify its requirements and to put a substantial advisory effort behind it. Full publicity will be given to the new arrangements at the time when amending Regulations are laid 291W before Parliament. A short explanatory leaflet is also in preparation. We hope that all these measures will make the availability of grant-aid under the Scheme very widely known.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have been received under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme; how many have been successful; and how much has been paid in grant, (a) in the last year for which figures are available and (b) since 1974.
§ Mr. StrangIn 1975, 593 proposals for development plans were received and 466 were approved; since 1974 and up to the end of 1975 850 were received and 598 approved. Payments, which include capital grant, guidance premium, and account-keeping grant, totalled £825,736 in 1975 and £960,401 since 1st January 1974. These figures relate to the United Kingdom.