(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Rural Diversification Programme (Scotland) Regulations 1995 (“the principal Regulations”).
They provide that–
(a)those eligible to receive financial assistance under the principal Regulations include the father or mother of the legal occupier of an agricultural unit (regulation 3(b));
(b)a person shall not cease to be a legal occupier of an agricultural unit by reason of having granted a lease of such unit for a period of not more than 8 months (regulation 4);
(c)applications for financial assistance received after 31st October 1999 shall not be approved and claims for payment received after 31st October 2001 shall not be accepted (regulations 5 and 7); and
(d)the amount of financial assistance payable in the case of primary production of aquaculture products shall be up to 40% (previously 40%) and in the case of any other diversification measure up to 50% (previously 50%) (regulation 6).
Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations sets out the measures in respect of which financial assistance may be given. These Regulations substitute a new Schedule 2 which restores alternative agricultural production omitted from the Schedule substituted by the Rural Diversification Programme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/722), specifies the conversion of redundant farm buildings into housing for rent as a measure and makes minor drafting changes (regulations 3 and 8).
The Rural Diversification Programme (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1997 are revoked (regulation 9).