The Farm and Conservation Grant (Variation) Scheme 1991

Prospective

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Scheme)

This Scheme further varies the Farm and Conservation Grant Scheme 1989 (“the principal Scheme”) and complies with Article 8 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 797/85 (OJ No. L93, 30.3.85, p.1) on improving the efficiency of agricultural structures, as amended by Council Regulations (EEC) Nos. 1760/87 (OJ No. L167, 26.6.87, p.1), 2156/89 (OJ No. L207, 19.7.89, p.12) and 3808/89 (OJ No. L93, 30.3.85, p.1).

The Scheme—

(a) provides for grant in respect of glasshouses used for the production of “beneficial organisms” intended for pest control (paragraphs 4(a) and (d) and 7);

(b) extends the areas of land which may be treated for the purposes of the principal Scheme as less-favoured areas, in which higher rates of grant are payable, in accordance with Commission Decision 91/25/EEC (OJ No. L16, 22.1.91, p.25), which amends the list of less-favoured farming areas contained in Council Directive 84/169/EEC (OJ No. L82, 26.3.84, p.67) (paragraph 4(e)). Less-favoured areas are defined by reference to designated maps which are available for inspection during normal office hours at the addresses specified in the definition of designated maps (paragraph 4(b)). Copies of the maps may also be inspected during normal office hours at any Regional or Divisional Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, at any Divisional Office of the Welsh Office Agriculture Department and at any Area Office of the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department. This variation of the principal Scheme does not apply to claims for grant received before 18th July 1991 or claims towards expenditure incurred before 18th December 1990, the date of notification of the Commission Decision;

(c) omits the requirement in respect of certain works that expenditure shall not be incurred before written notification of them is acknowledged by the appropriate Minister (paragraph 5(1)(c));

(d) makes increases in the maximum limits of expenditure which may be eligible for grant (paragraph 5(2)).

The Scheme also—

(a) amends the definition of “the Farm and Conservation Grant Regulations” (paragraph 4 (c));

(b) makes the restriction on expenditure in connection with the breeding or keeping of dairy cows referable to an applicant’s quota, as defined in the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1989 (paragraph 5(1)(a));

(c) replaces the term “ancillary farm business” with “qualifying business” (paragraph 5(1)(b) and (3)); and

(d) makes a minor amendment to clarify which rates of grant are available in the Isles of Scilly (paragraph 6).