§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce low-interest loans and mortgages for farmers. [105030]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 17 January 2000]: The Government have no plans at present to introduce low interest loans and mortgages for farmers. The £1.6 billion support for Rural Development, which my right hon. Friend announced on 7 December 1999, Official Report, columns 701–03, will be applied through project funding or grants which offer effective and well focused forms of support.
In addition, loan guarantees will continue to be available to qualifying sectors of the agriculture industry under the Government's Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme.