I think I shall be able to show good and sufficient reason why the House should agree with this Amendment. Let me point out that this is in one sense a drafting Amendment. In another sense, however, it is an Amendment of substance, and it has been devised for the sole purpose of including within the provisions of this Bill an extension of the Rating and Valuation (Apportionment) Act of 1928 in order to include within the rating provisions of this Bill single men businesses and in order to make certain that de-rating shall apply to them. This question was discussed or the previous stages of the Bill, and I undertook to see that an Amendment would be introduced in another place to protect them. This Amendment also extends the de-rating proposals to commercial salmon fishings. The question was raised during the Committee stage and since then I have received a number of applications from the commercial salmon fishing industry round the coast of Scotland. As hon. Members know, there is a distinct division drawn between commercial salmon fishing and sporting rights, and this Amendment has been carefully devised, after consultation with the assessors in Scotland, and the commercial fishing interests in Scotland who have agreed to the provision. I can assure the House that this Amendment will give de-rating to commercial salmon fishings, and will exclude any possibility of sporting rights being included.

There is the further point of the mineral rights. It has been ascertained through reports made to me, that the position of the de-rating of minerals in Scotland would not be so favourable to the coal working industry, and, as I am anxious to bring the matter into line, I have agreed to the extension of this provision. All those who are acquainted with this problem in Scotland will realise that there may be a colliery which is not perhaps being worked. The assessment may include more than one property, and, in order to make it effective, several properties may have to be included. You may find an arrangement under which all these properties are included in one lease or a variety of leases, and the de-rating under the Bill as it left this House would only be effective for the part that was actually worked, although rates would have to be paid on the whole of the property. Our object under this Amendment is to give de-rating so that there will not be any unfairness, and I think the House will agree that that is a desirable thing to do. With these explanations, I hope the House will agree to this Amendment.