§ Mr. RuaneTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to promote diversification within farming. [123463]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 23 May 2000]: The England Rural Development Plan describes how Government intend to use the European Community co-funded measures in the Rural Development Regulation to support farmers wishing to diversity within farming. Of the £1.6 billion seven-year programme, £152 million will fund a new Rural Enterprise Scheme to encourage diversification; £44 million will fund a new Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme to encourage innovation and 38W achieve added value for primary products and £22 million will go towards providing targeted training to support these and other schemes in the Plan.
In addition, under the Action Plan for Farming, MAFF will be producing a new advisory booklet on farm diversification and farmers who need planning approval for Rural Enterprise Scheme applications will receive free specialist advice.
The arrangements for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are set out in the rural development plans and Single Programming Documents for those countries.