asked the Minister for Agriculture if he intends changing the scheme for headage grant payments etc., to allow farmers whose wives are working to qualify for payment; if he will abolish the income limit for qualification for part time farmers, if it is the case that public representatives living outside the country with land here are receiving payments, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Grant Eligibility.
81.
Under the disadvantaged areas schemes an applicant whose spouse is working already qualifies for payment of headage grants provided the combined off-farm incomes of the applicant and spouse do not exceed £6,400. Since the headage grants under these schemes are meant to be income supplements to farm households with no or low off-farm income, I do not propose changing the off-farm income clause in the 1986 schemes. As far as my Department are aware, no public representative living outside the country is receiving grants under the disadvantaged areas schemes.