Will the Minister indicate to the House the extent of grant aid available to farmers in the non-disadvantaged areas for the carrying out of the kind of improvements set out in Question No. 11?

The question generally related to the western package. The extent of grant aid available to farmers in the non-disadvantaged areas which are not part of the western package is 20 per cent, which is 5 per cent higher than that which goes for normal farm development costs. That is the maximum available under the EC regulations. Also, in regard to the farm income survey which was published recently showing a 31 per cent increase generally in farm incomes, and the fact that there was a smaller income in the disadvantaged areas which is the other two thirds I am dealing with here, it is clear that in the interests of the farmers themselves — because it is their markets that will be influenced by this whole area of product presentation — those who can benefit from 20 per cent where they have had a 31 per cent farm income increase should do so.

I welcome the Minister's announcement of last week. Farmers should be congratulated on their efforts to deal with this whole pollution problem this year. They deserve more credit than they have been given. In regard to the 20 per cent that the Minister is talking about, is this on top of what they may have already got under the farm improvement scheme?

It is the farm improvement scheme. The only addition to that is that there would be 25 per cent surplus which has now been agreed for young farmers and that applies to all under 35. Where 55 per cent is the normal grant under the western package that is increased by 25 per cent to 70 per cent for all farmers under 35 and the same increase applies here. I would be the last to take from the farm organisations. In fact I have already today acknowledged that the farm organisations have taken a very responsible and positive position here but there are some small unrepresentative farmers who are doing irreparable damage. I have called together the farm organisations together with ACOT with a view to isolating those who could do terrible damage to farming interests and the economy generally and all aspects of our environment. I have no doubt that I will get full co-operation from the farm organisations.