HC Deb 29 January 1963 vol 670 cc741-2
29. Sir Richard Pilkington

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he has now considered taking steps to help those on whom the expected rise in rate valuation will fall most severely, allowing for the probable difference in poundage.

Sir K. Joseph

There are no steps which I could take to help particular ratepayers. The Government's reasons for deciding against any derating of houses generally in individual counties and county boroughs were explained in the White Paper issued last year (Cmnd. 1663).

Sir Richard Pilkington

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that is not very satisfactory? There will be cases of acute hardship and something should be prepared for such cases. Will he think again about this?

Sir K. Joseph

I do not like to raise false hopes. At the moment the bulk of residential occupiers will be bearing a lower share of the rates as a result of revaluation, but we must wait to see the effects on individual areas of the analysis that is now going on of the new valuation lists. That should be out very soon.

Mr. MacColl

Is the Minister saying that he will publish a revised analysis of the figures given in Cmnd. 1663? Will he confirm that the decision not to use these powers was that they were based on a fairly quick sample assessment of what was happening? Now that the actual valuations have been published, is it not time for the right hon. Gentleman to reconsider the decision he took?

Sir K. Joseph

Certainly, we must look again when the results are published in a few weeks, but there is no reason yet to suppose that the average increase in householder's share will reach a level in any county or county borough to justify a change in that decision.

Mr. Temple

Will my right hon. Friend set up a committee to study the possibility of the payment of rates on a weekly basis, which would help just this category of ratepayer?

Sir K. Joseph

There is, of course, power for this to be done now; but I will look into the point, although it does not arise immediately out of this Question.

Mr. M. Stewart

Is it not a matter not only of the rise in the householder's share as a whole, which may be one thing, but of the exceptional rise which some householders in particular are having to meet?

Sir K. Joseph

Yes, and this is just what I cannot do anything about.

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