§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total expenditure on land drainage schemes in England since 1974.
§ Mrs. FennerGrant is available under the Land Drainage Acts to the statutory drainage bodies (water authorities, internal drainage boards and local authorities) for the improvement of arterial drainage and the construction of flood defences, including tidal and urban flood protection; and to farmers under the farm capital grant schemes for the drainage of agricultural land.
The total grant expenditure is:
Land Drainage Acts Financial year Grant £ million 1974–75* 8.411 1975–76* 14.093 1976–77* 12.414 1977–78* 13.504 1978–79* 16.263 1979–80† 26.833 1980–81† 23.358 1981–82† 25.776 1982–83† 30.244 1983–84† 29.929 * England and Wales. † England.
Farm Capital Grant Schemes Calendar year Grant £ million 1979 17.025 1980 28.004 1981 25.324 1982 32.299 1983 29.893 Information for earlier years is not available.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average cost per acre of land drainage schemes grant-aided by his Department.
§ Mrs. FennerThis information is not available.
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§ Mr. Onslowasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current projections of public expenditure on land drainage schemes in England.
§ Mrs. FennerProvision for public expenditure on land drainage schemes in England is not separately identified in table 2.3 of the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1984–85 to 1986–87" (Cmnd. 9143 Vol. II). That for arterial drainage forms part of programme 3.6 (land drainage and flood protection) and that for field drainage under the farm capital grant schemes part of programme 3.2 (other agricultural support).