HL Deb 08 August 1980 vol 412 cc1775-7WA
Lord CHELWOOD

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (i) Whether they will introduce a new system for paying grants to farmers and horticulturalists that will require prior approval only for works that could have more than very minor adverse effects on nature conservation (such as drainage, land clearance and reclamation, or grassland regeneration) and regarding which expert advice ought therefore to be given by ADAS, and by about how much the consequent reduction in their staff would fall short of 385;
  2. (ii) What was the cost to the taxpayers of the capital grants paid to farmers and horticulturalists under the existing schemes for the last 12 months for which figures are available;
  3. (iii) What percentage of agricultural and horticultural works that attract capital grants are inspected before the grant is paid, and after the projects are completed; how many ADAS staff are 1776 involved; and whether it is intended to preserve this system should each House of Parliament approve the draft Agriculture and Horticulture Grant Regulations 1980;
  4. (iv) What is their estimate of the number of Sites of Special Scientific Importance where significant damage has been done as a result of agricultural works carried out without prior approval and therefore without the advice of ADAS or the NCC in each of the last five years; and how they propose to deal with this situation in the light of their statutory obligations under the Countryside Acts 1968.

Viscount LONG

(i) Our main objectives in introducing new capital grant arrangements are to simplify the capital grants schemes so that they entail less public service involvement and leave individual farmers with more freedom to make their own investment decisions. Grant arrangements which included prior approval would not be consistent with these objectives. However, the new arrangements include provision for implementing our obligations under the Countryside Acts. The new arrangements were explained by my noble friend the Minister of State for Scotland, the Earl of Mansfield, on 6th August during the debate on the statutory instruments concerned (SIs 928, 929, 930, 1072 and the draft Agriculture and Horticulture Development Regulations 1980).

(ii) Capital grants paid out in the financial year 1979/80 amounted to:

£ million (UK)
FCGS 73.9
HCGS 3.3
FHDS 66.7

(iii) The arrangements for inspecting works on which grant is paid vary according to the type of investment and other circumstances. To divulge the exact details of the arrangements would reduce their efficacy, which depends on their confidentiality. At present about 25 per cent. of the regional ADAS staff can be involved at intervals during the course of other work. Under the new arrangements ADAS involvement in the capital grant schemes will be reduced as a result of the abolition of prior approval but the arrange- ments for inspection will broadly remain.

(iv) I regret that this information is not available.