HC Deb 13 November 1980 vol 992 cc400-2W
Mr. Ennals

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many field and land drainage schemes have been grant-aided by his Department in each of the past five years.

Mr. Wiggin

The number of field drainage schemes in England which have been grant-aided under the farm capital grant scheme and the farm and horticulture development scheme are:

1975 12,518
1976 14,375
1977 10,767
1978 12,836
1979 11,202

The number of schemes under the Land Drainage Act 1976, including sea defence schemes but excluding Thames tidal defences, are:

1976 305
1977 308
1978 289
1979 317

Mr. Ennals

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total annual sum awarded for field and land drainage projects in each of the past five years.

Mr. Wiggin

The total annual sums paid in grant-aid for field drainage schemes in England under the farm capital grant scheme (FCGS) and farm and horticulture development scheme (FHDS) are shown below:

£000's
1975 12,260
1976 13,849
1977 11,586
1978 16,730
1979 17,760

Under the Land Drainage Act 1976 the annual amount of grant aid paid to water authorities, local authorities and internal drainage boards for land drainage and sea defence works, excluding the Thames tidal defences, was:

£000's
1975–76 14,087
1976–77 12,414
1977–78 13,504
1978–79 16,262
1979–80 26,833

Mr. Ennals

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many field and land drainage grants have been awarded in Norfolk and Suffolk, respectively, in each of the past five years; and what was the total annual sum spent in each county on these projects.

Mr. Wiggin

The number of field drainage schemes in Norfolk and Suffolk and annual sums paid in grant aid under the farm capital grant scheme (FCGS) and farm and horticulture development scheme (FHDS) are as follows:

SUFFOLK
Number £000's
1975 Not available
1976 464 482
1977 707 734
1978 890 996
1979 765 1,122
NORFOLK
Number £000's
1975 Not available
1976 321 348
1977 435 509
1978 499 683
1979 484 698

Records of land drainage schemes grant aided under the Land Drainage Act 1976 are kept by area covered by local land drainage districts, local authorities and internal drainage boards and information is not, therefore, available on a county basis.