§ 61. Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he expects will be the final cost to his Department of aid towards storms, snow and flood damage experienced by the agricultural industry during the winter of 1977–78.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe cost to my Department of the measures which I have announced to help farmers and growers in England back into full production is expected to be around £3¼ million over three years. Of this sum about £½ million will be accounted for by the special land restoration grants for land affected by flooding, and £2¾ million for other capital grants at increased rates which I announced on 22nd March. I cannot at the present time give a figure for the share of the costs to be borne by my Department for the arrangements to drop fodder to livestock at risk. The Government are also prepared to make available some of the money offered by the EEC Commission to a fund which the National Farmers Union is intending to institute for contributions towards heavy losses of livestock.—[Vol. 946, c.550–1.]