Blair backs horses

31 March 2000



Blair backs horses

TONY Blair is tapping in to Britains passion for horses by offering in a bid to bring more money into rural areas.

The Prime Minister announced on Thursday (30 March) that he is prepared to grant zero business rating for horse projects, such as pony-trekking and riding lessons, on farms.

At present, these are charged at full business rate.

This will be especially important to tenant farmers, many of whom are keen to use redundant farm buildings as livery stables, reports The Times.

Whitehall has made it clear that rearing animals for horsemeat will be excluded from the new planning rules.

• The Times 31/03/2000 page12