HC Deb 26 January 1983 vol 35 cc890-1
12. Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a statement on the future of domestic rates.

Mr. King

I shall announce our decisions as soon as possible.

Mr. Skinner

Is it not ironic that the Government, who came into power talking about the abolition of domestic rates—

Mr. Robert Atkins

Ask a question.

Mr. Skinner

I said "Is it not". That is a question. Is the Secretary of State aware—as he obviously is—that since the Government came to power they have shifted the amount of rate support grant from 62 per cent. down to 53 per cent. in the next financial year, with the result that instead of abolishing domestic rates they are imposing a burden on the domestic, industrial and other hereditaments involved in rating—which is the exact opposite of the policy on which they were elected? Has there not been a shift away from the taxpayer to the ratepayer, even though the Government said that they would abolish rates?

Mr. King

It would have been even more ironic had the hon. Gentleman not quite made it to the Chamber in time for his question. I congratulate him on the speed with which he constructed his supplementary question while not being wholly aware of the contents of his original question when he entered the Chamber. The hon. Gentleman said that we were imposing higher rate burdens. If he had been in the Chamber a little earlier he would have heard of Conservative councils up and down the country which, far from imposing higher rate burdens, are to make substantial reductions.

Mr. Colvin

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the least that the House expects on the issue of domestic rate reform is a White Paper to be presented to the House and, in due course, a commitment in the next Conservative general election manifesto to the removal of this monstrously unfair—although I accept efficient—tax, which, incidentally, unnoticed by the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), was conspicuously absent from the last Conservative manifesto?

Mr. King

I am more than aware of what the House expects, even if the expectation is not always the same in every corner of it.

Mr. Kaufman

When do the Government intend to honour the Prime Minister's personal commitment to abolish domestic rates?

Mr. King

I have nothing to add to the answer that I have just given.