§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money was saved in each year following the reorganisation of the administration of the farm and horticultural grant schemes; and whether any subsequent abuse of the retrospective grants system, including cases of farmers claiming grant for work which had not been done, or was done to a lower standard, came to the attention of his Department.
§ Mrs. FennerThe estimated savings in salaries and earnings-related national insurance contributions accruing from the reorganisation of the administration of the capital grant schemes are as follows:
Year £ million 1980–81 1.2 1981–82 2.0 1982–83 2.2 There were additional savings in overhead costs but these cannot be separately identified because of other changes which took place at about the same time; in particular, the reorganisation of the Ministry's regional structure.
All claims for grant are checked before payment is made, and there is no evidence of farmers claiming for work which has not been carried out. As a result of the checking procedures, a number of claims for grant have been refused either in whole or in part, but we do not record the reasons for refusal since more than one may apply to any one claim.