AGRICULTURAL RATES (ADDITIONAL GRANT) CONTINUANCE BILL. (Hansard, 4 March 1925)

§ Mr. ARTHUR GREENWOOD
Before this Bill is finally disposed of, I am sure the House would like to have some assurance that it is not the intention of the Government to bring forward this Act at regular intervals and put it virtually on the basis of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. While it is generally agreed on this side of the House that this Measure should be accepted on this occasion, we regard it practically as a stop-gap Measure, pending some further far-reaching Measure to deal with the whole question of local rates. The House is aware that the Act on which this Bill 530 is based, the Agricultural Rates Act., 1923, was opposed by Members on this side of the House on the grounds that while it might do something to remove an admitted grievance on the part of certain classes of ratepayers, it did nothing to deal with the question which was as important for other ratepayers as for the ratepayers in agricultural areas. We should be glad to be assured that the Government—who are optimistic enough to believe that they are going to be in office for a considerable period of time—intend, before the present Bill expires, to deal with the question of local rating on a much more comprehensive scale than has hitherto been attempted. I understand that the Government propose at an early date to seek a Second Reading of the Rating and Valuation Bill, and I should like to be assured, if I might, that that Bill is really a beginning of a reasoned policy for dealing with the whole problem of local rating. In view of the Rating and Valuation Bill which is in the Government programme, and regarding that as an earnest of the Government's intention to pursue the whole question of local 531 rating until it is put upon a satisfactory basis, we offer no opposition to the Third Reading of this Bill, but we should like to be assured that the Government regard this as purely a stop-gap Bill, and that it is their intention at an early date to deal with the whole question of local rating. We should like to be assured that the Rating and Valuation Bill, which is promised, is but the beginning of a policy which will secure ultimately the overhauling of the whole rating system with a view to putting it on an equitable basis. I should be glad if the Minister in charge of the Bill could give the House some assurance on those points.

§ Captain ELLIOT
I should be very glad to give such an assurance as is in my power to the hon. Gentleman and to the House, and to assure him that certainly the Government are pressing on with the consideration of its rating proposals. While, of course, the House will not expect me to give a date, especially in view of the Parliamentary mishap with which he is better acquainted possibly than those of us on this side of the House, he will, I am sure, accept my assurance that the Government does not regard the question of rating as solved by this Bill, that it does intend to continue to examine.?, carefully the question of rating, that it has a very large Bill now under consideration, and intends to bring the Bill forward at an early date.

§ Mr. A. GREENWOOD
The Bill to which the hon. and gallant. Member refers is the Rating and Valuation Bill, which is but a first stage. That Bill, as drafted, would really do nothing to deal with the problem which this Bill is designed temporarily to meet. What I am asking is. whether the Government propose to follow that Bill by legislation which will deal with the problem which has necessitated this particular Bill?

§ Captain ELLIOT
We have an old Scottish proverb which says, "One at a time is good fishing," and I am sure file hon. Member will not expect me here and now to sketch out the legislative programme of the Government further. These problems are engaging the close attention of the Government, and I have no doubt finality will not he reached by the Rating Bill they are now discussing, and that further reforms will have to take place.