asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with representatives of the National Farmers' Union about the effect of Government taxation policies on the agricultural industry: and with what result.

I have kept in close touch with the union's view. The union has also submitted its views directly to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and has discussed them with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. These views have been, and are being, fully considered by the Government in the implementation of their taxation policies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what meetings he has held with forestry interests about the effect of Government taxation policies; and what representations have been made to him by them.

Representations have been received from a number of individual woodland owners and forestry organisations in addition to the Forestry Committee of Great Britain, the central representative body for private woodland owners, with whom my hon. Friends the Minister of State and the Under-Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, have met to hear their views on the effect of capital transfer tax on private forestry.