HC Deb 26 February 1969 vol 778 c1699
16. Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated total cost to the farming community of the increase in the fees for petroleum storage licences.

Mr. John Mackie

About £27,000 annually.

Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

Does not the hon. Gentleman consider it regrettable to heap this unnecessary and bureaucratic burden on the shoulders of an industry which the Government represented that they wished to encourage?

Mr. Mackie

The hon. and gallant Gentleman must realise that the licensing of the storage of petrol has been administered by the local authorities for many years, and the last increase was in 1928. Even he would agree that there has been a rise in costs, and the increased fee just covers the increased cost of administration. There is no reason to suggest that a farmer's application costs less to administer. Indeed, it might cost more to administer than one in a town.