§ Mr. Hirstasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what higher rates of grant will be introduced for farmers in the new less-favoured areas in Scotland; and what the notification arrangements will be.
§ Mr. YoungerThe modifications to the capital grant schemes in the United Kingdom are being announced today by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food together with the notification arrangements to apply in England and Wales.
In Scotland I have also made arrangements for notifying Scottish farmers whose holdings lie within the new less-favoured area. Letters will be issued today to all farmers in the Department's annual census, whose land is wholly or partly within the new area. The new benefits will be paid only on land classified as disadvantaged in accordance with the statutory instruments we laid before Parliament yesterday. The letters therefore invite occupiers to indicate whether they wish their holdings to be inspected by my Department for that purpose.
Similar letters will also issue today to those farmers in the original less favoured areas whose land is not currently eligible for full LFA benefits but some of which, after inspection, may qualify for the new benefits. They also are being invited to indicate whether they wish to have their land inspected by my Department.