I move:
That the order for the Second Stage of the Rates on Agricultural Land (Relief) (No. 2) Bill, 1980, be discharged and that the House give leave for the Bill to be withdrawn.
Rates on Agricultural Land (Relief) (No. 2) Bill, 1980: Motion to Discharge Order for Second Stage.
This Bill was introduced in the middle of December last to give effect to the meeting of the second moiety of rates for certain agricultural holders with a valuation of between £40 and £60. It has not been dealt with in the House and local authorities have not yet seen the statutory implementation of a Government directive. What proof have local authorities now that they can expect to see the Bill which was introduced earlier on today's Order being passed during 1981?
It is intended, subject to agreement with the Whips, to have the Second Stage of No. 1 taken next Tuesday. It is correct to say that the original Bill, the Rates on Agricultural Land (Relief) (No. 2) Bill, 1980, was intended to give statutory effect to the relief of the second moiety of rates granted in 1980. However, further concessions on rates leviable on agricultural land were announced in the budget statement of the Minister for Finance before the Second Stage was ordered. The benefits that were extended to the farming community in the original Bill have now been subsumed in the other piece of legislation.
Is the Minister aware that local authorities are now in a situation where they do not know whether to issue rate demand notices, which is their legal obligation, or not because they do not have any legal backing for not issuing them? All local authorities, as the Minister ought to know, are suffering from a severe and extreme cash flow crisis.
Local authorities are well aware of the position.
The Minister mentioned that the Second Stage would be taken next week, subject to the agreement of the Whips, but it is only fair to point out that there has been very little legislation introduced in the last four years by the Government. We are not going to be too co-operative in legislative gimmickry that has been going on for the last month or six weeks.
Question put and agreed to.