§ 52. Major POLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any resoutions, and, if so, how many, urging the Government to allow local authorities to levy rates on land values as an aid to the solution of the problems of unemployment?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)No record of such resolutions, if any, has been kept in the Treasury.
§ 55. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether it is intended to introduce legislation to secure that rates are paid upon all sporting rights?
§ Miss LAWRENCEI have been asked to reply. I understand that a test case under the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act, 1928, is likely to come before the High Court in the near future, the decision in which should resolve doubts as to the liability of sporting rights in certain circumstances to separate assessment for rates. In the meantime, it would be premature to consider the question of amending legislation.
Mr. GUINNESSIs it not a fact that, where sporting rights are let separately from the ownership of land, they are rated at present, and any such proposal as proposed by the hon. Member (Mr. Kelly) to rate all sporting rights would take away from the owner occupiers, who now cultivate more than a third of our land, a great part of the benefits which they have received from the derating of agricultural land?
§ Miss LAWRENCEI am afraid the practice is conflicting and uncertain.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWould it not be more in the interest of the country to find work for these sporters instead of them hunting all over the country using up their time enjoying themselves?