§ 19. Sir HUGH LUCAS-TOOTHasked the Minister of Health whether, in the case of a local authority carrying on or contributing to a land drainage scheme at the expense of the general ratepayer, he intends to de-rate agricultural land in respect of such a rate?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)The intention is that the occupiers of agricultural land shall be relieved of any rate thereon which is a rate within the definition in Section 68 of the Bating and Valuation Act, 1925. This definition excludes the ordinary drainage rates, but in the special cases where local authorities incur expenditure in connection with land drainage works which is chargeable through such a rate on the general body of ratepayers, the occupiers of agricultural land will be relieved.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDo I understand that in the case of special drainage at the expense of local authorities the landowners who get the benefit of that expenditure are to contribute not one penny to the expenditure involved?
§ Sir K. WOODI should hesitate to assent to that proposition. Perhaps the right hon. and gallant Member will look 1832 at my answer, which is of rather a technical nature.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the law being changed in such a way that the beneficiaries who are at present liable to contribute by a special rate on agricultural land will no longer have to contribute?
§ Sir K. WOODThe change, if any, is as is stated in my reply. It is difficult to deal with this matter by question and answer, and no doubt the right hon. and gallant Member will seek a further opportunity to raise the question on the Report stage of the Bill.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEIs it not a fact that under the block grant the additional cost of any such schemes will have to be borne entirely by the rest of the ratepayers?
§ Sir K. WOODIt has nothing to do with a block grant; that is dealt with in the second part of the Government Rating proposals as contained in the White Paper.
§ 20. Mr. LOOKERasked the Minister of Health whether property and premises used for horticultural and glass-house purposes will be freed from all rates under the rating proposals of the Government?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend is advised that the definition of "agricultural land" contained in Clause 2 of the Bating and Valuation (Apportionment) Bill includes horticultural land, and that the definition of "agricultural buildings" contained in the same Clause includes both (i) glass-houses occupied together with agricultural land and (ii) glass-houses not occupied together with agricultural land, if such glass-houses are themselves market gardens.
§ Mr. LOOKERDo I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that his answer is in the affirmative?
§ Sir K. WOODI would invite my hon. Friend to look carefully at the reply, which was carefully prepared.
§ Mr. HARRISWill a glass-house in the London area or in a big town be exempted from rates if used for horticultural purposes?
§ Sir K. WOODIt depends whether it comes within the definition under this Clause.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs a glass-house used for producing tomatoes within the definition.
§ Sir K. WOODYes, I think it certainly would come within the definition.
§ Sir K. WOODMy hon. Friend should, I think, put that question to my hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.