§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the terms and conditions for the operation of the proposed farm riding scheme; and how these terms and conditions compare with those governing existing commercial riding establishments; and [HL4255]
What licensing requirements are proposed for the farm riding establishments created under the farm riding scheme; and [HL4256]
What date the proposed farm riding scheme will come into operation. [HL4257]
§ Lord WhittyIn our public consultation paperRate Relief for Horse Enterprises on Farms (August 2000) we proposed that small, newly established horse-related enterprises on working farms, including riding schools, should receive rate relief. The consultation paper suggested that such enterprises with rateable values below £6,000 should receive mandatory rate relief of 50 per cent, with the local authority having the discretion to increase the relief to up to 100 per cent of the rates bill.
Other than attracting rate relief these farm-based enterprises would be treated no differently from other horse-related enterprises. The implementation of the rate relief scheme would require primary legislation. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation paper.