Scottish Islands Agricultural Development Programme Regulations 1988
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | SI 1988/481 |
| Year | 1988 |
1988 No. 481 (S.49)
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
The Scottish Islands Agricultural Development Programme Regulations 1988
Made 11th March 1988
Laid before Parliament 15th March 1988
Coming into force 5th April 1988
The Secretary of State, being a Minister designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 19721in relation to the common agricultural policy of the European Economic Community2, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the said section 2(2) and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:
Citation, extent and commencement
1. These Regulations, which may be cited as the Scottish Islands Agricultural Development Programme Regulations 1988, shall apply only to the Scottish Islands and shall come into force on 5th April 1988.
Interpretation
2.—(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
“agricultural development” means any farm development measures, livestock development measures, agricultural infrastructure measures and agricultural support measures;
“agriculture” includes horticulture, seed growing, dairy farming, the breeding and keeping of livestock, the use of land as grazing land or meadow land, and the use of land for woodlands where that use is ancillary to the farming of land for other agricultural purposes, and “agricultural” and references to farming shall be construed accordingly;
“apportioned land” means land which is apportioned from the common grazings and has been previously improved by surface or other treatment;
“approved” means approved in writing by the Secretary of State and “approve” and “approval” shall be construed accordingly;
“croft” has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 19553;
“eligible person” means a person who is an owner or tenant (including crofting tenant or sub-tenant) of a farm and any person authorised to act on his behalf;
“farm” includes an agricultural holding within the meaning of section 1 of the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 19494, a croft and any holding within the meaning of sections 2 and 32 of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act 19115
“financial assistance” means payment by way of environment management payment, grant, management premium, premium or stock health improvement payment;
“hill land” means any land other than inbye land;
“inbye land” means anylandwhich is or has been enclosed or delineated by fences, dykes, hedges, etc. (including apportioned land) and which has been used for cultivation, production of forage or closely controlled grazing by stock;
“livestock” includes any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins, or fur or for the purposes of its use in the farming of the land;
“the Regulation of the Council” means Regulation (EEC) No. 1402/86of the Council of the European Communities of 6 May 19866;
“Scottish Islands” means all islands off the northern and western coasts of Scotland with the exception of the Western Isles Islands Area;
“traditional winter keep” means the production of oats, barley, rye, bere, turnips, kale and hay;
“Western Isles Islands Area” means the area established by section 1(3) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 19737.
(2) References in these Regulations to a numbered regulation or Schedule shall be construed as a reference to the regulation or Schedule so numbered in these Regulations.
Financial assistance for agricultural development
3.—(1) Subject to the provisions of these Regulations and provided he is satisfied that it is otherwise expedient for him to do so, the Secretary of State may provide financial assistance to an eligible person—
(a)
(a) towards the cost of any farm development measure specified in Part I of Schedule 1;
(b)
(b) by way of environment management payments in respect of the categories of land specified in Part II of Schedule 1;
(c)
(c) towards the cost of any livestock development measure in relation to the categories of animals specified in Parts I and II of Schedule 2;
(d)
(d) by way of stock health improvement payments in respect of the category of animals specified in Part III of Schedule 2; and
(e)
(e) towards the cost of any agricultural infrastructure or support measure specified in Schedule 3.
(2) The Secretary of State may determine the manner and timing of payment of financial assistance.
Farm plans
4.—(1) A farm plan submitted for approval shal be set out in such form as the Secretary of State may from time to time require and the eligible person shall furnish all such particulars and information relating thereto as the Secretary of State may require, and in particular—
(a)
(a) sufficient information to show that the plan relates to an agricultural business;
(b)
(b) a description of the farm at the time of submission of the plan for approval and of the land to which the plan relates;
(c)
(c) plans where applicable to—
(i) rationalise his farming operations;
(ii) increase the efficiency of the farm;
(iii) improve the quality of livestock;
(iv) alter and provide for farm buildings;
(v) diversify into tourism, small industry, or other activities; and
(vi) conserve or enhance the environment;
(d)
(d) an indication of the measures to be taken and, in particular, of the capital investments necessary in order to achieve the objectives of the plan and the time scale envisaged for the development.
(2) The duration of the agricultural development shall be such period as is specified in the plan, being a period not exceeding 5 years and normally not less than 3 years from the date of approval of the plan.
Approval of farm plan
5.—(1) The Secretary of State shall only approve the farm plan insofar as it is aimed at the encouragement of agricultural development in accordance with the Regulation of the Council and is to be carried out by or on behalf of the eligible person.
(2) Subject to paragraph (1) above, the Secretary of State, as he thinks fit, may refuse to approve the plan or may approve the farm plan in whole or in part for the purposes of financial assistance and may make his approval subject to such conditions as he may impose.
Restrictions on approval of farm plan
6. A farm plan shall not be approved under these Regulations unless the Secretary of State—
(a) is satisfied that the measures to be undertaken under the plan will improve the development of the farm, will achieve the objectives set out in the plan and are viable; and
(b) has had regard to the provisions of section 17 of the Agriculture Act 19868.
Variation of farm plans
7. The Secretary of State may only in exceptional circumstances agree the variation of an approved plan and then only within approved notified expenditure limits.
Amount of financial assistance
8.—(1) Grant shall be payable, in respect of expenditure on any farm development measure set out in column 1 of Part I of Schedule 1, at the percentage rate specified in relation to that measure in column 2 of that Part.
(2) Where any farm plan includes specific provision for an environmental area identified therein, an environment management payment shall be made, in respect of the category of land set out in column 1 of Part II of Schedule 1, at the rate specified in relation to that category in column 2 of that Part.
(3) A premium shall be payable, in respect of any livestock development measure relative to the category of animal set out in column 1 of Parts I and II of Schedule 2, at the rate specified in relation to that category in column 2 of those Parts.
(4) A stock health improvement payment shall be made, in respect of the category of animal set out in column 1 of Part III of Schedule 2, at the rate specified in column 2 of that Part.
(5) Grant shall be payable, in respect of expenditure on any agricultural infrastructure and support measure set out in column 1 of Schedule 3, at the percentage rate specified in relation to that measure in column 2 of that Schedule.
Management premium
9.—(1) On approval of a farm plan detailing any of the farm development measures set out in column 1 of Part I of Schedule 1, the eligible person will qualify for a management premium amounting to the percentage of the approved cost specified in relation to that measure in column 3 of that Part, which premium will be payable in 2 instalments—
(a)
(a) two thirds at the commencement of the farm plan; and
(b)
(b) the remaining one third when the farm plan has been completed and the targets have been met.
(2) On approval of a farm plan detailing livestock improvement measures relative to any of the categories of animal set out in column 1 of Parts I and II of Schedule 2, the eligible person will qualify for a management premium amounting to the sum specified in relation to that category in column 3 of those Parts, which management premium will be payable in 2 instalments—
(a)
(a) one half at the end of the second year of the farm plan; and
(b)
(b) the remaining half when the livestock development measures have been completed and the targets have been met.
Maximum limits of financial assistance
10.—(1) Financial assistance in respect of each farm plan shall be limited in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (2) below.
(a)
(a) (2) Financial assistance under Part I of Schedule 1 shall not exceed £20,000, and within that figure—
(i) assistance relative to tractors (item 8) shall not exceed £5,000; and
(ii) the total management premium payable under that Part shall not exceed £3,750;
(b)
(b) financial assistance under Part II of Schedule 1 shall not normally exceed £4,000;
(c)
(c) financial assistance under Schedule 2 shall not exceed—
(i) £7,500 for a 3 year plan; and
(ii) £10,000 for a 5 year plan; and within...
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