§ Mr. Heddleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he plans to bring forward measures to implement the proposals of the Northfield committee to lessen the pressures of the tax system on the private landowner wishing to let agricultural land.
§ Mr. WigginProposals made by the Northfield committee of inquiry into the acqquisition and occupancy of agricultural land for mitigating the impact of taxation on private agricultural landlords are being considered in the context of the Chancellor's review of capital taxation.
§ Mr. Heddleasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will initiate discussions between the Country Landowners' Association and the National Farmers Union and the Agricultural Economic development Council to examine methods of reforming the tax system in order to place owners of agricultural land who wish to let their land on the same tax footing as owners who take their land in hand and farm it themselves.
§ Mr. WigginNo. These bodies have all examined this problem in depth over the past few years. The Country Landowners' Association and the National Farmers' Union submit their representations on agricultural taxation 393W direct to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A detailed assessment on the impact of taxation on the farming industry was provided by the agriculture EDC in 1977.