§ Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make arrangements to avoid delay 139W to farm investments following the statement he made to the House on 8th March regarding improved capital grants.
§ Mr. StrangAs my right hon. Friend indicated in his statement to the House on 8th March, we propose to make increases in the rates of certain grants under the Farm and Horticulture Development Regulations and the Farm Capital Grant Scheme and hope to lay amending statutory instruments before the House before Easter. Because of the Recess it seems unlikely that these can be brought into force until June.
Normally the increased rates of grant would apply only to work started after that time. But it is most important that investment, particularly in grass conservation projects, should not be held up at this time of year. My right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland will, therefore, be adjusting our administrative procedures so that we can consider for the new rates of grant, under the requirements of any statutory instruments that may be approved by Parliament, expenditure on any work that has been started with written authority from our Departments. This arrangement will apply in the case of items included in the existing schemes to work which receives written authority after today—i.e., from 24th March onward; and in the case of any other items included in the amending Sis, to those which are authorised after the time when the Sis are laid.
These arrangements should enable the industry to respond to the new incentives in time to make the most of this season's grass.