§ 37. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government the total amount of rates paid to all local authorities last year; what was the amount paid by agricultural and industrial hereditaments, separately, which enjoy derating; and what was the amount of rates that would have been paid without derating in both cases.
§ Mr. MarplesThe total amount of rates for 1951–52 was £318 million. I regret that information is not available as to the distribution amongst the various classes of hereditaments. Valuations of agricultural hereditaments have not been made since 1929.
§ Mr. FreemanIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the enormous increase in rates that has taken place in the country during the last 18 months since the Government came into office? Is he also aware that the exemption which is enjoyed by the larger industrialists and the farmers has to be paid, whether it runs into hundreds of millions of pounds or not, by the ordinary ratepayer throughout the country in every town and village?
§ Mr. MarplesI cannot give the figures asked for by the hon. Gentleman in his Question because no Government since 1929 has thought fit to ask for them to be compiled.
§ Mr. StokesDoes the Minister consider there is any excuse whatever for continuing the derating of industrial hereditaments?
§ Mr. MarplesThat is scarcely the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. StokesBut that is the Question I want answered.
§ Mr. GodberDoes my hon. Friend realise that the effect of re-rating agricultural land will inevitably be to put up the price of food?