§ Mr. Bert Hazellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements he proposes to make about the application of the Selective Employment Tax in regard to agriculture and horticulture; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeartAs the House will be aware, I have had a number of discussions with the National Farmers' Union, who have made representations on behalf of all three Farmers' Unions. I have also had discussions with the Country Landowners' Association and the National Union of Agricultural Workers. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my agricultural colleagues and I have given the most careful consideration to the representations from these organisations. In the light of this, while reaffirming that employers in agriculture and horticulture126W should remain in category (ii) of Cmnd. 2986, the Government have decided that the most satisfactory method of refunding the tax would be to make payment direct to individual farmers and growers. The detailed arrangements will now be considered in consultation with the organisations concerned.