§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what Government financial aid schemes are currently available to assist farm diversification and farm development and to support farm incomes in Wales.
§ Mr. David HuntAll the current agricultural support schemes, implemented under the common agricultural policy, contribute to a greater or lesser extent to the incomes of farm businesses. The most important to farmers in Wales in terms of overall expenditure include the sheep annual premium scheme, hill livestock compensatory allowances, suckler cow premium scheme, beef special premium scheme, farm and conservation grant scheme and the environmentally sensitive area scheme. The farm and conservation grant scheme is the only one of these schemes containing specific measures aimed at developing or improving the farm structure. Grants for farm diversification were available under this scheme, but were withdrawn on 18 January 1993.