HC Deb 17 January 1980 vol 976 cc1861-2
13. Mr. Cockeram

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his intention to meet the president of the Country Landowners Association.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Jerry Wiggin)

My right hon. Friend hopes to meet the president of the Country Landowners Association on 5 February.

Mr. Cockeram

Do the Government share the general concern that, since the 1976 Act, there has been a tendency for agricultural tenancies to decrease and, consequently, for rents to rise to high levels? Will he discuss the problem with the president of the CLA with a view to securing a suggested remedy to it?

Mr. Wiggin

My right hon. Friend believes that it would be wrong for the Government to introduce changes in agricultural holdings legislation which are not acceptable to the industry as a whole. Without the industry's agreement, farms will not be let.

Mr. Strang

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the two pieces of legislation that were enacted by the previous Labour Government and which were most ferociously opposed by the CLA were those which gave greater security of tenure to the families of farm workers and tenant farmers? Will he make clear that the Government have no intention of undermining that security, both in relation to farm workers and tenant farmers?

Mr. Wiggin

The original question concerned the letting of farms. I suggest that the two pieces of legislation passed by the previous Government—capital transfer tax and the 1976 Act—have completely dried up the supply of land to let.

Mr. Peter Mills

Will my hon. Friend make clear to the president of the CLA that it is crucial to come to an agreement with the NFU over a wide range of matters, particularly with regard to the farming ladder? If something can be done about that, it will provide opportunities for many young farmers.

Mr. Wiggin

It would not be right for me to lay the blame on either body as to why the talks broke off. However, it is well known that the NFU have more difficulty in coming to terms than the CLA.

Mr. Cryer

Will the Minister give the assurance that is asked for by the Front Bench spokesman for the Opposition, that the rights of tenant farmers will not be eroded and replaced by the auctioneering that went on before we passed our legislation? Before that time, ordinary, decent, hard-working tenant farmers were priced out of the market by greedy massive landowners.

Mr. Wiggin

I detect an almost universal wish in the industry that more farms should be available to let and that opportunities should exist for young people to farm. The Government will seek to consider ways in which those objectives can be carried out.