§ Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a participant who joins the Farm and Horticultural Development Scheme while minimum lending rate is 955WA at 17 per cent, would be able to leave the Scheme, should the minimum lending rate remain at a high or similar rate, without repayment of grants received; and:
Whether a participant in the Farm and Horticultural Development Scheme, who finds that the present minimum lending rate of 17 per cent, makes his continuance in the Scheme impracticable, is able to leave the Scheme without repayment of previous grants.
The MINISTER of STATE, MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES and FOOD (Earl Ferrers)It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to penalise a farmer who for genuine reasons beyond his control (which could include unexpected financial difficulties) is unable to complete his development plan under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme.