Explanatory note

This Scheme, which extends to England only, complies with Council Regulation (EC) No. 1257/1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and, in particular, Articles 4 to 7 which deal with investment in agricultural holdings.

It makes provision for the making of grants in respect of agricultural businesses which are at least partly situated in nitrate vulnerable zones, as defined by regulation 3(1) of the Protection of Water against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (England and Wales) Regulations 1996 and regulation 3(1) of the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Additional Designations) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2002.

The grant is available at the rate of 40% towards expenditure (up to a maximum of £85,000) incurred by the agricultural business between the date of coming into force of the Scheme on 17th April 2003 and 31st October 2005 in relation to facilities for the handling, storage and disposal of certain farm wastes and the separation of clean and dirty water (paragraph 3).

Provision is made by paragraph 4 of the Scheme for the consideration of applications during a period to be suspended or rejected if there are insufficient financial resources for the payment of grants under the Scheme.

A number of restrictions are imposed on the making of grants under the Scheme (paragraph 5).

The procedure for claiming a grant is determined by the Secretary of State (paragraph 6).

The Farm Waste Grant (Nitrate Vulnerable Zones) (England) (No. 2) Scheme 2000 is revoked with a saving for grants already approved under that Scheme (paragraph 7).

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