HC Deb 25 July 1955 vol 544 cc803-4
3. Mr. Speir

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it has now been possible for the Forestry Commission to arrange to collect rates due to local authorities from their employees at the same time as they now collect rents due to the Commission.

Mr. Amory

I regret that this would not be practicable.

Mr. Speir

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the local authorities wish it, the unions wish it and the employers wish it? Will he look at the matter again?

Mr. Amory

When my hon. Friend put the Question down, I had another look at the matter, but the difficulty is that the Forestry Commission has 3,500 tenancies, which are very much scattered all over the country and over a very large number of different local authorities.