These Regulations, which come into force on 1st October 2006 and apply in relation to England only, provide that the Secretary of State shall not consider any applications received on or after that date under four rural development grant schemes. The schemes form part of the England Rural Development Programme, which implements Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (O.J. No. L160, 26.6.1999, p.80).
The first scheme is established by the Energy Crops Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/3042), which enable financial assistance to be paid towards projects approved by the Secretary of State for projects involving the establishment of energy crops (miscanthus and short rotation coppice) or the formation of a producer organisation for the purposes of managing the production and supply of short rotation coppice.
The second scheme is established by the Rural Enterprise Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/3043), which enable financial assistance to be paid towards projects approved by the Secretary of State for investment in agricultural holdings or promoting the adaptation and development of rural areas.
The third scheme is established by the Vocational Training Grants (Agriculture and Forestry) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/3045), which enable financial assistance to be paid towards projects approved by the Secretary of State 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 fourth scheme is established by the Agricultural Processing and Marketing Grants Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/3046), which enable grants to be paid towards expenditure approved by the Secretary of State for operations involving investment for the improvement of the processing and marketing of agricultural products.
The functions of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the instruments referred to above were transferred to the Secretary of State by article 2(2) of S.I. 2002/794.
A regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared for these Regulations as they have no impact on the costs of business. Further information about the England Rural Development Programme is available on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/default.htm.
Regulations revoked (1.1.2015) by The Common Agricultural Policy (Control and Enforcement, Cross-Compliance, Scrutiny of Transactions and Appeals) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3263), reg. 1(1), Sch. 5