§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the terms and conditions of any orders or notices concerning agricultural rents arising from Section 2(b) of the Counter-Inflation (Temporary Provisions) Act; and if he will make a statement on his estimate of the effect of the application of the Counter-Inflation Bill to agricultural rents.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartUnder the Counter Inflation (Agricultural Rents) Order 1972 (SI 1972 No. 1849) agricultural rents in Great Britain are frozen for the period of the standstill at the level which applied on 5th November 1972. Increases in rent in return for new improvements carried out by the landlord are not affected.
Power to provide for restricting or preventing increases of agricultural rents by order is given in Clause 10 of the Counter-Inflation Bill. Should this power be enacted, an order will be laid before the House. Its precise content is under consideration.