§ Sir C. COBBasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the proposed further reduction of the amounts to be paid by occupiers of agricultural land in respect of the local rates assessed, he will make provision for bringing up to date the basis, now 27 years old, upon which the Exchequer contributions payable in respect of the relief given to such occupiers under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, have ever since been calculated, inasmuch as the existing basis represents only a small fraction and is entirely disproportionate to the loss sustained by the other ratepayers in consequence of their having to make good the difference between the Exchequer contributions and the actual half of the rates assessed upon occupiers of agricultural land?
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§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer is in the negative. The Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, was intended to correct to some extent the inequality in the distribution of local burdens between the occupiers of agricultural land and other ratepayers. A grant was given at the same time to prevent an immediate increase in the poundage of the rates as a result of the relief given to these occupiers, but subsequent increases of rates have been levied on the more equitable basis of assessment laid down in the Act and I can see no ground in this for an increase in the original grant.