HC Deb 23 April 2002 vol 384 cc134-5W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to decide grants for the year 2002–03 under the Processing and Marketing Scheme. [49321]

Mr. Morley

Decisions on awards under the Processing and Marketing Grant are generally made quarterly. In 2002–03, this will be in May, August, November and February. Regional Managers of DEFRA's Rural Development Service, who chair the Regional Appraisal Panels at which grant awards are made, may however hold such Panels more frequently if the number of applications to be considered are sufficient to ensure an appropriate level of competition.

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what EU criteria there are regarding maximum and minimum grants for individual applications under the Processing and Marketing Scheme. [49322]

Mr. Morley

Maximum and minimum grants under the Processing and Marketing Grant were approved by the European Commission as part of national rural development programmes.

The England Rural Development Programme states that:

The maximum rate of grant will be 30 per cent. of the total eligible cost; There is a minimum total project cost threshold of £70,000. Projects may be of any size above this figure but there is a ceiling on the maximum grant payable of £1.2 million per project.

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) maximum and (b) minimum amounts are payable to individual applicants under the Processing and Marketing Scheme in (i) cash terms and (ii) percentage terms. [49319]

Mr. Morley

The maximum cash amount payable to individual applicants under the Processing and Marketing Grant is £1.2 million on a single project.

The rate of grant under the Processing and Marketing Grant is 30 per cent. of total eligible costs.

There is a requirement for a minimum total project cost of £70,000. The minimum cash amount payable is dependent on the eligible costs of the project.

Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total budget was for the Processing and Marketing Scheme for(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01, (e) 2001–02 and (f) 2002–03; and what the largest individual grant was in each year in (i) cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of the total sum of all grants. [49320]

Mr. Morley

The Processing and Marketing Grant was re-introduced as part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) in 2000. The previous scheme was closed in England in 1996.

A budget for the ERDP Processing and Marketing Grant was first held in 2001–02; this was £4 million. The budget for 2002–03 is £8 million.

The largest individual grant awarded in 2001 was £314,949.21 which represents 17.12 per cent. of the total sum of all grants approved in 2001.

The largest individual grant awarded in 2002 (to date) was £596,043 which represents 18.11 per cent. of the total sum of all grants awarded in 2002 (to date).