§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he had with the Fur Breeders' Association prior to amending the Rating Bill so as to exclude fur breeders from derating.
§ Mr. Graham PageI have been asked to reply.
The Bill seeks to extend, subject to certain conditions, the present derating of agricultural buildings to buildings used for the keeping and breeding of livestock. The Amendment referred to excluded animals kept for the production of fur from the definition of livestock for this purpose. The effect would thus be to leave fur breeders in the same position on agricultural derating as they are under the existing law. There was no consultation with the Fur Breeders' Association prior to making this amendment.