§ Mr. ArbuthnotTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to consult interested bodies on changes to the farm capital grant schemes.
§ Mr. GummerThe Government have today issued a consultation paper proposing the merger of the farm diversification grant scheme and the farm and conservation grant scheme. Copies are available in the Library of the House. As a result of the merger, the maximum investment on which grant would be claimable for diversification projects would be increased to £40,000 from £35,000 and under the farm and conservation grant scheme, to £85,000 from £74,000. However, the combined investment ceiling under both would not be allowed to exceed £85,000.
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Subsidies and capital grants to nationalised industries1 £ million 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 21990–91 BAA plc 1 1 — 1 — — — — — — — — — British Aerospace 50 — — — — — — — — — — — — British Airways — — — — — — — — — — — — — British Coal 171 244 244 335 693 731 1,538 907 825 917 480 3,586 1,806 British Gas Corporation — — — — — — — — — — — — — British National Oil Corporation — — — — — — 67 — — — — — — British Rail 494 641 610 814 846 870 843 849 755 795 556 479 621 British Shipbuilders 11 31 40 46 44 33 17 23 13 10 26 14 3 British Steel Corporation — — — — — — — — — — — — — British Telecom — — — — — — — — — — — — — British Transport Docks Board — — — — — — — — — — — — — British Waterways Board 20 23 26 28 38 40 42 43 44 44 46 48 49 In reviewing the scheme I have decided to ask Parliament to abolish the rule that work started without formal acknowledgement of prior notification may not qualify for grant under the farm and conservation grant scheme. A number of farmers who have been penalised for ignoring this rule in their eagerness to deal with pollution problems will now be able to submit fresh claims as soon as the new rules are in force. However, the rule will not be abolished until Parliament has approved the necessary legislation and will remain in force for work carried out under an improvement plan. Farmers are therefore advised to consult the appropriate agriculture department if they are in any doubt as to their eligibility for grant.