HC Deb 17 May 1966 vol 728 cc1123-4
Q4. Earl of Dalkeith

asked the Prime Minister if he will reconstitute the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with the title of the Ministry of Rural Affairs, with unified responsibility for agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural amenities and with the function of promoting the best economic use and development of rural land through the of all the interests in the countryside.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Earl of Dalkeith

Does the Prime Minister intend, following the winding up of the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources, to place forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and thereby enable it to make the enormous contribution of which it is capable to the wealth of the nation through expansion in the association with farming? Will he also intervene personally to ensure that forestry is not penalised by the Selective Employment Tax, which will kill all prospects of expansion in future?

The Prime Minister

The latter point has just been raised in Questions to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In answer to the general question, I would point out that it is very difficult to give any single Department responsibility for all the problems of rural development, rural industry and rural amenity taken together. But existing planning authorities and such bodies as the Highland Development Board and our own proposals for a countryside commission are designed to see that all these matters are considered together, as is, of course, the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Wales in his own country.

Mr. Woodburn

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer also gives very considerable concessions in taxation to forestry with a view to inducing people to dedicate their land to forestry?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. I am aware of the help given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and, indeed, other Departments. The hon. Member for Edinburgh, North (Earl of Dalkeith) was asking about Departmental responsibility in this matter, on which I shall have something to say later.