§ Sir R. SANDERSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, as a first step towards giving relief to the farming industry as a whole from the operation of various Acts pased mainly in the cause of social betterment, the Government will take steps to find the money to enable rates on agricultural land to be abolished by taking advantage of the increasing and potential yield of the Road Fund revenue, or by some other means?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy right hon. Friend will recognise that agriculture is receiving very extensive assistance from the Exchequer at the present time: £5,000,000 for the relief of local rates, approximately an equal sum on the Beet Sugar Subsidy, special grants for small holdings, agricultural research and education, drainage, etc., amounting to another £2½ millions, besides large grants from the Road Fund for the maintenance and improvement of rural roads. In this respect it already stands in a very special852W position among the industries of the country—many of which, no less (than agriculture, are heavily burdened with rates, and all of which are called upon to contribute towards the various schemes of social betterment which have been adopted by the nation in recent years. Means of assisting agriculture are continually under the study of His Majesty's Government, but I regret I am not in a position to make any new proposal.