Such payments shall be at a rate to be determined by the Secretary of State–

a

in the case of an agreement entered into on or after 15th August 1996, up to a maximum rate of £30,000 for each 5 year conservation plan; and

b

in the case of an agreement entered into before that date–

i

for the year of the 5 year conservation plan included in such agreement which commenced but which had not ended before that date, up to a maximum rate of £3,500 per annum per crofter, farmer or common grazings committee for that year; and

ii

for the whole years or remaining whole years of such 5 year conservation plan, up to a maximum rate calculated by multiplying £6,000 by the number of those whole years or remaining whole years.