§ Mr. Macleanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the take-up rate of the new agricultural improvement scheme grants in the United Kingdom and in Cumbria.
§ Mrs. FennerThe agriculture improvement scheme came into operation on 1 October 1985. Up to 31 December 1985, 1,109 applications were received in the United Kingdom for the approval of plans under the scheme. Twenty seven of these came from Cumbria.
These figures are unlikely to reflect the real level of interest in the scheme, because applicants must complete outstanding work on other capital grant schemes before new plans can be approved. This will delay some applications.
401WThe scheme also provides grants for certain investments for which prior approval of plans is not required. My Department does not have information on the take-up rate for these investments.