§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance can be given to farmers to purchase farm machinery.
§ Mr. BishopGrant aid is available to eligible farmers with development plans to purchase new farm machinery under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme. Aid is also provided under the Farm Capital Grant Scheme for specific items of fixed farm equipment. Rates of grant vary widely and are set out for reference in the schedules to Statutory Instruments 1976/743 and 1976/547. In addition assistance is available under the Agriculture and Horticulture Co-operation Scheme to forage groups in less-favoured areas for harvesting and conservation machinery at similar rates to those available in these areas under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was 572W the level of investment in machinery in 1975, 1974 and 1973 in British agriculture.
§ Mr. BishopInformation about investment in plant, machinery and vehicles in these years is given in Table 23 of the 1976 Annual Review White Paper (Cmnd. 6392).