§ 38. Mr. Freudasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his Department's current policy on drainage grants.
§ Mrs. FennerMy hon. Friend the Minister of State explained my Department's policy on drainage in the debate on 23 January in the Fifth Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments. Briefly, we recognise the importance of field drainage in good land management, which is why we shall continue to grant-aid it. But drainage grants have accounted for almost one third of grants paid under the agriculture and horticulture grant scheme, and over the last five years about £230 million in grant has been paid for field drainage in the United Kingdom. Approximately 60 per cent. of lowland drainage grants in England go to the specialised cereals and general arable sectors.