51. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to avoiding penalising, by way of tax, farmers who have petrol-burning tractors, he will consider removing the tax from agricultural petrol, or, alternatively, giving a rebate of 6d. a gallon on petrol used for agricultural purposes.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Glenvil Hall)I cannot anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget Statement.
Mr. De la BèreDoes the Minister realise that agricultural petrol ought not to have been made liable to this tax? Why penalise this most efficient tractor when more food is so urgently needed? We must make sure that this tax is taken off agricultural petrol without any further delay, Budget or no Budget. That answer has been made before.