The Vocational Training Grants (Agriculture and Forestry) Regulations 2000

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which extend to England only, supplement the Community legislation listed in the Schedule to the Regulations (“the Community legislation”). The Community legislation inter alia provides for support from the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (“Community assistance”) for vocational training in the agricultural and forestry sectors. The Regulations operate within the scope of these provisions to enable assistance to be paid for vocational training for those involved in agricultural and forestry activities or those involved in those sectors who wish to diversify into other activities either within or outside the agricultural and forestry sector.

The Regulations implement a part of the England Rural Development Programme (“ERDP”) approved by the European Commission under Article 44 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 (OJ No. L160, 26.6.1999, p.80) and provide for the payment of financial assistance by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (“the Minister”) in respect of those projects which he has approved (regulation 3). Such projects may be approved if they are in accordance with that part of the ERDP which relates to support for vocational training pursuant to Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999. (They are designed to benefit those involved in agricultural or forestry activities, or in the conversion of those activities to others either within or outside the sector) (regulation 5).

In addition, the Regulations provide for the making of claims for, and the payment of, financial assistance following approval (regulations 6 and 7) and also contain provisions creating obligations on those in receipt of financial assistance concerning the provision of information (regulation 8) and record-keeping (regulation 9).

Further provisions concerning enforcement matters and enabling the Minister to withhold or recover assistance in the event of a breach of the Regulations by an applicant, training provider or trainee, and those respectively creating and specifying the resultant criminal offences and penalties, are contained in the England Rural Development Programme (Enforcement) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/3044).

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations.

Copies of the Commission Decision referred to in paragraph 3 of the Schedule, and of the ERDP, are available for inspection during normal office hours at the offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.