(1)This Act may be cited as the Horticulture (Special Payments) Act 1974.
(2)This Act extends to Northern Ireland.
(3)In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the following meanings respectively, that is to say:—
" agricultural business " means a business consisting in, or such part of any business as consists in, the pursuit of agriculture;
" agriculture " and cognate expressions shall be construed, except in relation to Scotland, in accordance with section 109 of the [1947 c. 48.] Agriculture Act 1947 and, in relation to Scotland, in accordance with section 86 of the [1948 c. 45.] Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948;
" the appropriate authority ", in relation to a scheme, means the appropriate Minister, or the appropriate Ministers acting jointly, for the part or parts of the United Kingdom for which the scheme is made;
" the appropriate Minister " means—
in relation to England the Minister ;
in relation to Wales the Minister and the Secretary of State acting jointly;
in relation to Scotland the Secretary of State;
in relation to Northern Ireland the Minister;
" horticultural produce " has the meaning assigned to it by section 8(1) of the [1960 c. 22.] Horticulture Act 1960 ;
" the Minister " means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;
" prescribed " means prescribed by a scheme.
(4)Section 269 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972 (which relates to the meaning of " England " and " Wales " in Acts passed after the 1st April 1974) shall apply to this Act as if it had been passed after that date.