Agricultural Land and Buildings

HC Deb 22 January 1987 vol 108 cc726-7W

33. Mr. Richard Page

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider re-rating agricultural land and buildings.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Rating policy is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. On 10 July 1986 a reply was given on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Devon, West and Torridge (Sir P. Mills) making clear that the Government have no plans for re-rating agricultural land and buildings.

35. Mr. McLoughlin

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effect on farm incomes and food prices of a re-rating of agricultural land and buildings.

51. Mr. Yeo

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the effects on agriculture of re-rating agricultural land and buildings.

Mr. Donald Thompson

I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Mr. Moynihan) earlier today.

50. Mr. Best

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the status for rating purposes of agricultural land.

Mr. Donald Thompson

Over the past year my Department has received five representations on the rating of agricultural land. Three of these asked for the extension of agricultural de-rating to buildings occupied by non-agricultural horses, one was in favour of retaining the current de-rating of agricultural land and buildings and one expressed opposition to the current position. Responsibility for rating policy rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.