§ Mr. Colvinasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that the proposals contained in all the policy documents referred to in his statement to the House on agricultural land on Monday 9 February are published in a single comprehensive Green Paper, in order to ensure the widest possible awareness of all the issues involved.
§ Mr. JoplingThe Government intend to issue together next month a comprehensive set of documents on their policies for agriculture and rural development.
§ Mr. Colvinasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when he intends to publish the findings of his Department's alternative land use and a rural environment study.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonThe Government's conclusions were set out in the statements which my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for the Environment made to the House last week.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if farm buildings ancillary to farming operations which are changed to other uses in consequence of his statement of 9 February will be subject to local authority rating; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeI have been asked to reply.
The present exemption from rating relates only to those buildings (other than dwellings) which are occupied together with agricultural land and are used solely in connection with agricultural operations on that land. Where there is a change of use and a building is no longer used in this way it will be rated normally.