Statistics

The Farm Businesses (NI) Order 1988 provides that the Department of Agriculture may, with the approval of the Department of Finance, make a scheme to provide payment by way of grant expenditure to farmers.

Grants may be made towards expenditure incurred in connection with the establishment or expansion of a farm business of such description as may be specified in the scheme. It may provide for the establishment or expansion, for business purposes connected with the establishment, expansion, or carrying on of a farm business, of any agricultural business. It may also provide for the promotion of farm business and the marketing of anything produced or supplied in the course of a farm business.

A scheme may impose requirements to be complied with by persons applying for a grant. It may confer discretion on the Department as to payments of grants, as to the manner and timing of the payment, and as to their amounts. It may provide for grants to be paid to persons on such terms as may be specified or determined under the scheme and for the modification of such terms.

A scheme may provide for terms on which grants are paid to impose requirements, including requirements to be complied with after the payment of the grant and with conditions for repayments, as may be specified. It may provide for any discretion conferred under the scheme to be exercisable in such circumstances and by reference to such matters as may be specified or determined.

Agricultural business means a business consisting of or such part of a business as consists of the pursuit of agriculture. Farm business means a business consisting of or any part of a business as consists of, or such parts of the business as consist of a business carried on by a person who also carries on an agricultural business at the same time on the same or adjoining land and is not in itself an agricultural business.

The Agricultural Statistics (NI) Order 2004 provides for the power to obtain agricultural statistics. The Department may, by notice in writing served on a person, require them to furnish to the Department such information as may be specified in the notice.

The matters concerned include the situation, area, and description of land, the estate and interest in land held or occupied by the relevant person; crops growing or produced on the land; livestock owned by the relevant person; machinery, equipment, and facilities owned by the relevant person or kept on the land; methods of operation used on the land; any scheme, agreement, or practice which applies in relation to the land for the purpose of protecting the environment; any other commercial activities or occupation carried on on the land; keeping of accounts by the relevant person.

The request may be directed to the owners or occupiers of the land or persons who work the land.

The functions may be contracted out by the Department to a service provider.

Information obtained shall not be disclosed without the previous consent in writing of the person to whom it is furnished or other persons whose interests may, in the opinion of the Department, be affected by the disclosure.

This is not to restrict the disclosure of information to a Government Department, an EU institution, Food Standards Agency, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, criminal proceedings for non-compliance to any person for the purpose of the provision by that person of any services to the Department and any other person to whom the Department considers that disclosure is required in the public interest.