§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce measures to increase assistance to growers to help them change from oil to solid fuel in heating glasshouses.
§ Mrs. FennerSubstantial assistance is already available to glasshouse growers to help them to change to solid fuel heating systems. Grants of up to 25 per cent. of the costs of conversion to coal-firing are available under the Department of Industry's coal-firing scheme, which has recently been extended to 31 December 1983. In addition, loans on favourable terms of up to 50 per cent. of conversion costs may be obtained. Grants for conversion to any type of solid fuel heating system are available under my Department's capital grant schemes at rates ranging from 15 percent. to 32½ per cent., depending on the kind of facility and scheme of assistance involved.