§ 32. Mr. John Wellsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the implementation of the Selective Employment Tax does not have an adverse effect on the growth of horticultural co-operatives and selling groups.
§ 33. Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to review the position of horticultural and agricultural co-operative marketing processing organisations with regard to the Selective Employment Tax.
§ Mr. John MackieThe operation of the tax is being reviewed by the Departments concerned. My right hon. Friend is giving careful consideration to the position of horticultural and agricultural co-operatives.
§ Mr. WellsAssuming that this is a favourable wind of change, can the Joint Parliamentary Secretary give us some indication of when this review will be completed and when we may hear some more positive good news?
§ Mr. MackieNot at the present moment.
§ Mr. HastingsIs it not a fact that this produce remains the property of the grower right up to the point of sale? On this basis, how can it be represented that this is a service industry in any form? Is it not disgraceful that the hon. Gentleman's Department finds no way around this anomaly? Will he please hurry along with this review?
§ Mr. MackieYes.
§ Mr. GodberI am glad to have that assurance from the Joint Parliamentary Secretary. Does he realise that there is a genuine sense of unfairness on this point, and will he and the right hon. Gentleman take an urgent decision on this, because it is worrying a great many producers?