Clause 3 - Rate relief for rural food shops
Rating (Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Bill
12:15 pm
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome, Liberal Democrat)
I have tabled three amendments in this group. One would widen the Bill's scope and the other would clarify the position that Ministers outlined in their responses on Second Reading to ensure that there is no ambiguity in the wording of the Bill.
Amendment No. 3 would widen the Bill's scope by removing the words in parentheses in subsection (6CA). It would remove the exclusion of shops that supply confectionery and provide food in the course of catering. It is similar to the amendment tabled by the hon. Member for Ashford and is designed to explore the Government's contention that the scope of the clause should be narrower.
Confectionery is not defined in the Bill. Is it defined in existing statute? We have a definition for the supply of food in the course of catering, but we do not know what constitutes confectionery.