HL Deb 14 May 1980 vol 409 cc353-4WA
Lord MACKIE of BENSHIE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the known financial benefits available to French farmers, such as low interest loans, planting subsidies, et cetera.

The MINISTER of STATE, MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES and FOOD (Earl Ferrers)

I regret that I am not able to give the noble Lord a comprehensive list of Government assistance to French farmers, but I can provide the following information. The French give interest rate subsidies for the purposes of farm modernisation under the European Community Directive, whereas in the United Kingdom we prefer to implement the directive by means of capital giants. Low interest rate loans are also available to members of producer groups for replanting certain kinds of orchards, and assistance is given for planting new pear orchards. Other kinds of direct Government aid are aids for the breeding of livestock, launching aid for producer groups, assistance towards the cost of promoting French exports, the encouragement of research and compensation for damage caused by natural disasters.