Extension of Definition of "agricul- Tural Buildings" and "agricul- Tural Land" for Purposes of Derating in England and Wales

Part of Orders of the Day — Rating Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 April 1971.

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Photo of Mr Eric Deakins Mr Eric Deakins , Walthamstow West 12:00, 7 April 1971

I, too, deplore the introduction of retrospective legislation on such an important matter.

I have three questions for the Minister arising from the two Amendments. First, what is the position of a local authority having in its rating area intensive livestock units on which rates were levied in 1970–71 and on which they have been levied and collected for 1971–72? Does it have to repay the rates? Second, the obverse of that, what is the position of a farmer who has intensive livestock buildings which had been rated in 1970–71 and on which rates have been paid for the years 1971–72? Has he a legal right to recover his rates from the local authority? Third, what is the position of a local authority which has made its rate in the pound for 1971–72 on the basis that the existing law would continue for 1971–72? Has it a right to levy a larger rate now that it will be deprived of part of the rate income it was either budgeting to levy or has already received from farmer ratepayers? What procedure must it adopt to balance its books?