§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Government intend to receive the rating of sporting rights in Scotland; whether he intends to reform the rating of shooting rights in Scotland; what representations he has received regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonWe have received representations from the Scottish Landowners Federation76W and from individuals about the differences which exist in the rating of sporting rights in Scotland and in England and Wales. It will not be possible to remove all these differences for the 1990 revaluation, which takes effect from April next year, but it is the Government's intention to move towards a common approach to the rating of sporting rights throughout Great Britain thereafter.