61. Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked whether, in view of the Budget Statement, it is proposed to omit the Agricultural Rates Acts from the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill of the present Session?
§ 67. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under his Budget proposals, the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, will be repealed; and, if so, how the practice of charging purely agricultural land with one-half of the rates levied upon buildings and other hereditaments will be perpetuated?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Samuel)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to these two questions. The withdrawal of the Grant payable under the Agricultural Rates Act, in consequence of the adoption of a new system of Grants does not involve the abandonment of the system of half rates on agricultural land which that Act established.